The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 2139: Sundering the emptiness

Cain, Meylin, the Enlightened One, and Tiramisu moved forward. The ground beneath them shimmered within the golden force field that protected them from most of the solar flares flooding the area. Yet the barrier was far from perfect — waves of chaotic radiation still broke through, washing over them in erratic bursts.

The Enlightened One could walk across the solar surface even without the field, enduring the immense pressure with calm ease. Meylin and Tiramisu, however, struggled. Their mastery of Unity was still shallow; it demanded constant focus to let the Light of the Flow move through their bodies without harm. Whenever their internal harmony faltered, backlash followed along with waves of spiritual and physical pain.

Fortunately, both were True Depravitas, and their bodies healed almost instantly thanks to their immortal constitutions. Even so, the effort was immense. Yet this suffering was also their crucible; under such pressure, their domain and mastery over Unity grew, proven by the lotus marks on their foreheads that glowed brighter and brighter with each step.

Months passed as the group advanced across the blazing plain, every day their domain over The Flow increasing, making them stronger and more adaptable to the Light, until finally, they reached its end.

What lay before them was darkness — not merely the absence of light, but something deeper, more absolute. Even the word darkness failed to capture its nature. It was the absence of everything — beyond void, beyond nothingness. It was a realm where even space and time did not exist.

The group could not help but glance at each other, their eyes full of awe and wonder as they asked themselves just how strong the Red King was to build a dimension like this one in the Fifth Ring. After all, even Tiramisu, an Alpha-Omega Overgod True Depravita, could not forge something like that even if her life depended on it.

The Neo-Demon took a steady breath and glanced toward the Enlightened One.

Understanding his intent, the Enlightened One brought his palms together and focused. After several minutes, a faint golden field shimmered into existence around him. His journey through the Fifth Ring had brought him close to full Unity, and though his control was still rough — below Cain’s level — it was enough to protect the group within the fiery crucible.

Once assured Meylin and Tiramisu would be fine, Cain stepped forward alone into the emptiness.

Instantly, terror consumed him.

A wave of primal dread crashed through his senses — a fear beyond reason. The emptiness before him seemed to swallow his very being, devouring his form, stripping away his existence. He had entered a realm not meant for creatures born within space and time. His mind and soul could not comprehend this dimension of absence, where all foundational laws of existence had collapsed.

He felt hollow — unanchored, untethered, utterly alone.

Cain staggered back, breath ragged, sweat cold upon his skin. Even with his immense willpower, it took long moments before his heart calmed and his mind steadied.

A deep frown formed as he contemplated what he had just faced.

"Even if I could endure that horror," he thought grimly, "how would I even know which way is forward?"

The question echoed in his mind. But instead of letting confusion overtake him, the Neo-Demon centered his breath and silenced his thoughts. In that stillness, the answer came.

He began to channel more and more of the Light of the Flow into his body, surpassing what flesh or soul should endure. His veins felt aflame, his spirit stretched thin — yet he continued, focusing all his strength into his right hand.

This time, he wasn’t trying to forge a gauntlet or a shield. He became a conduit, a living nexus through which the Flow itself could manifest.

Cain extended his hand forward, driving the golden light, and the emptiness split.

A faint tremor rippled through the dimension as golden cracks of light appeared, unraveling the black void. The emptiness was the antithesis of all things — the denial of existence, of reality, of even the concept of being. It was a place that could drive even Alpha–Omega Overgods to madness.

The Flow, however, was the pulse of connection itself — the rhythm that bound all life, all energy, all matter. As long as even a spark of creation remained, the Flow existed — and where the Flow existed, reality followed.

By channeling the Flow, the Neo-Demon brought structure to the void.

The effort was unbearable. His mind, body, and soul screamed under the strain, every atom trembling. He knew that if he failed — if he faltered even for a heartbeat — the emptiness would swallow him forever.

Yet his eyes showed no fear. Only calm, cold determination.

He turned to Meylin, Tiramisu, and the Enlightened One.

They met his gaze — and understood.

They knew the risk. The path ahead could lead to annihilation, or to transcendence beyond imagination.

Without hesitation, the three nodded. They stepped closer, placing their hands upon Cain’s back, channeling their own Light of the Flow into him. Their energy intertwined with his, bolstering his strength, steadying his will.

The Neo-Demon’s eyes shone like molten suns as he stepped forward.

A golden bridge unfurled beneath his feet — pure light solidified by will. With every step, it extended deeper into the void, parting the endless dark. The bridge hummed softly, resonating with the Flow that flowed through him and his companions.

The further they walked, the more the darkness around them stirred. Behind them, the solar plains were consumed, swallowed by the void until nothing remained.

There was no path back now — only forward.

The bridge trembled as they advanced, its edges dissolving into the emptiness. Space and time ceased to exist; there was no sky, no ground, no direction — only the shining current beneath their feet and the boundless dark that sought to erase it.

Cain led the way, his expression unwavering.

Either they would reach the end...

Or they would be devoured by the dimension where even existence itself could not survive.