The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 1975: Tier I Treasure—NecroSkin

The amount of Fortune generated was truly staggering—utterly gargantuan, far beyond anything Cain had forged before. Even when he had sacrificed every evil treasure across the three continents, the yield had not come close to this.

That alone revealed just how powerful Legion truly was. More importantly, it showed that the Samsara Flame cared little for quantity—it hungered for quality.

Cain stared upward, awed as waves of Fortune swirled in the sky. The golden tide shifted, condensing as though guided by unseen hands. Nearly a third of the luminous mass transformed into a single radiant sphere.

His Gift.

Cain’s eyes burned with thrill and anticipation. Just what kind of treasure could be born from so much condensed destiny? What miracle lay hidden within that golden orb?

His heart raced, but before he could ponder further, the rest of the Fortune changed. The immense tide melted into Merit, streams of radiant light that poured directly into his Samsara Seal.

Agony struck.

"AHHHHHHHH! DAMN IT ALL!" Cain screamed as his body convulsed.

The etched lines of the Samsara Seal expanded violently. They crawled across his forearm, searing like molten brands, then surged into his shoulder. The burning did not stop there. It invaded his chest, spiraling across his ribs, before consuming his left arm and leg. Finally, the fiery sigils reached upward toward his face, etching themselves into his flesh as the last drop of Merit was consumed.

Cain collapsed, drenched in cold sweat. His breathing came in ragged gasps, his chest rising and falling like a drowning man desperate for air.

The pain had been monstrous—like his skin being flayed open, his bones carved with heated blades, his organs pierced and mended only to be torn again. Every nerve screamed with torment, every fiber of his being scorched.

And yet... beneath the agony came a sensation of stability.

Resurrecion had cost him dearly. The act had drained vast portions of his life force and soul force. Even with the vitality drawn from the Scarlet Throne, the damage had been too great to fully mend. But now, as the Samsara Seal evolved, balance returned. His body steadied. His soul stabilized. The torment remained, but the fractures within him slowly aligned, granting him space to heal.

Cain lay still, savoring that fragile relief.

Then a majestic voice reverberated across the air—the voice of the Samsara Lord.

"Congratulations. You have accumulated enough Merit to awaken the First-Order Samsara Seal."

Cain’s lips curled into a wide smile. The leap was astonishing. To vault directly from a Third-Order Seal to a First-Order meant the Merit he had gained was truly immeasurable.

The voice continued, solemn and resonant.

"You may now burn fifty percent of your life force, soul, or willpower without permanent damage or backlash. Such wounds will heal naturally over time, or swiftly with the aid of divine treasures. The Seal remains effective even at the final stage of the Third Realm."

Cain’s eyes gleamed. To burn half of his very essence in battle without weakening himself was beyond powerful. It was liberation—a weapon and a safeguard combined.

And the revelation was not finished.

"The Samsara Seal now grants you a Pseudo-Immortal Body. Lost limbs and internal organs may regenerate, save for the brain, the heart, and your energy cores. Strive, and unlock the Samsara Runic Set. Then you shall attain a true Samsara Immortal Body."

Cain rose slowly to his feet. His body still trembled, but his eyes burned with exhilaration.

A Pseudo-Immortal Body.

His hands shook from thrill. Already, he could feel the subtle resilience spreading through his form, a hidden current reinforcing his organs, strengthening his frame. This was the gift he had long craved, the edge he needed to step further along the path.

"Samsara Immortal Body," Cain could not help but utter the title as he was sure its power would be impressive, but the requirement should be equally amazing.

Cain inhaled slowly, calming his mind. Speculation about the future could wait. Now was not the time for dreaming. Now was the time to claim what lay before him.

His gaze lifted to the ceiling.

There, suspended in the air, the golden orb pulsed like a second sun, radiating warmth and mystery. Cain’s heart pounded with curiosity and hunger. What kind of Gift had all that Fortune forged? What power awaited within?

He extended his consciousness, sending a psychic imprint into the sphere.

The orb burst.

Light erupted in cascading waves, revealing a wondrous treasure: a living mass of nebular plasma, glowing like a miniature galaxy condensed into a beating heart. Stars flickered within its depths, constellations shifting as though alive.

Before Cain could react, the plasma surged forward.

It struck his body like lightning, sinking into his skin. Not resting above his flesh, but fusing with it. In a heartbeat, it spread—seeping through muscle, bone, and blood. It stretched across his body, outside and within, merging with his organs, flowing through his vessels.

The nebula became him.

"Congratulations," the voice of the Samsara Lord echoed one last time. "You have obtained the Tier I Treasure—NecroSkin. A treasure of remarkable versatility. With it, even the mightiest warrior may become a paragon of indestructibility."

Cain’s breath caught.

NecroSkin.

He whispered the name aloud, savoring its weight. His hand lifted, and the new armor responded instantly.

Dark, shimmering matter poured across his palm, shaping itself into a blade. The edge gleamed sharper than ArchDeity treasures, humming with destructive resonance.

Cain willed again, and the form shifted. The sword melted into a spear. The spear became an axe. Then a hammer. In an instant, countless weapons manifested—each wrought from the same living plasma, each as sharp and unyielding as mythic armaments.

Yet Cain knew this was not its true function.

With a thought, the NecroSkin receded, vanishing seamlessly into his body. His flesh appeared bare, but he felt it there—invisible, alive, bonded to every cell.

"Its core function..." Cain whispered, realization dawning, "...is a perfect barrier."

The NecroSkin was no mere armor. It was a living dermis, adapting and breathing like flesh, yet stronger than any armor. It healed itself, nourished his body, and enhanced his physical power.

Cain clenched his fists. A grin spread across his face as this Gift was perfect for the future war.