The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 2279: Understanding the Power of Chaos

The moment Cain opened his eyes, his soul aura flared uncontrollably—an eruption not of strength, but of instability. The surge rippled through the Scarlet Crown like a tremor, its edges sharp and uneven, revealing the strain still gnawing at his body and soul.

Though Anark’s power, combined with the vitality and energy of the Everstrife Empyrean World channeled by Ao and Aioro, had shortened a coma that should have lasted years—perhaps even decades—Cain remained gravely wounded. His life force, soul force, and will were holding together only because of the Samsara Runic Set and the Samsara Immortal Body. Even so, he was far from recovered.

It took several seconds before Cain managed to rise from the ground. His movements were heavy, each one carrying a faint echo of pain. He offered a grateful nod to Anark, Ao, and Aioro, then drew a deep breath as he assessed his own state from the inside out.

He clenched his fists, circulating the power of his soul and ego as he analyzed the state of his Rebirth Heart and Inner Universe. After several minutes of silent concentration, a solemn expression emerged on his face.

"I can use only around half of my strength," he murmured, his voice low yet steady. "And every minute I spend fighting will come at a great cost to my recovery."

With that acknowledgment, Cain focused deeper within, connecting to the Power of Chaos. Even dormant, it pulsed as a part of his essence, forming faint threads that extended into the Everstrife Empyrean World itself. Through those threads, he could feel the minds, spirits, and emotions of countless beings—some connections weak and barely noticeable, others powerful enough to resonate like distant thunder.

"Even without me doing anything, the Power of Chaos is already enhancing my people and me," Cain whispered. "I can feel the flow of spirit and psychic energy from the Scarlet Throne moving with much more force through the Scarlet Stars."

A faint smile crossed his lips. The improved connection would accelerate the growth of everyone who bore a Scarlet Star. And, as always, the connection was not one-sided.

"The stronger they become," Cain continued, "the stronger their Scarlet Stars grow—and now I can tap into their power."

The upgrade was passive, yet already influencing him, nourishing the Primarch of Conquest Leviathan with the power and Concepts of every individual who carried a Scarlet Star. Still, Cain understood how far he remained from true mastery. Using this force placed immense strain on his soul and ego—so immense that merely channeling it had nearly destroyed him, plunging him into a coma.

And even beyond that lay the true benchmark.

He remembered the tale of the Demon King—how Adam had used the Power of Chaos to push the Demon King beyond his nature and free him. That level of cosmic manipulation was something Cain was nowhere near achieving. At least not anytime soon.

Now that he understood his limits, it was time to learn the state of the universe. He turned to Anark, who silently extended a spark of consciousness. Cain accepted it, letting the stream of information pour through him.

As he absorbed everything that had happened after his collapse due to the psychic scream, a deep frown darkened his face.

"This complicates everything," he muttered.

The wall of fire and decay forged around the Root World was unlike anything he had expected—an enormous barrier of cosmic flames and writhing flesh, impenetrable even to the strongest beings. He certainly could not pierce it—not in his current condition.

The only consolation was Anark’s analysis: the wall was not self-sustaining. It would eventually weaken and collapse. Only then could they mount another assault.

But that would take years. Years during which the Heart of the Root would continue to feed, evolve, and grow.

As Cain contemplated the coming battles, a memory flickered—two soul forces slipping through the collapsing portal into the Emptiness right before it sealed shut.

The Scarlet King still had no idea who they were. But he knew they were the source of the psychic scream that had pierced his defenses and knocked him unconscious, so that made it clear they were much more powerful than a High Lord.

"It seems there are two more powerful beings to be wary of," he said quietly. "Other than the Radagon. And who knows what strength they’ll reach once the barrier lifts."

One by one, countless problems stacked themselves before him. So many that for a moment, the weight felt almost suffocating. Yet Cain straightened his back. Even with the pressure of the universe pressing on his shoulders, he remained unmoving.

He was the leader. The one who could not break. The one who had to remain firm—no matter what.

"First things first."

Cain looked toward Anark and summoned a flame of forty-one colors into existence. The flickering light illuminated the throne room with a shimmering, sacred glow.

"The Alpha Omega Tribulation Enhancement already repaired your body and life force," Cain said. "But I can still detect damage to your soul and will. This Middle ArchDiety Tribulation Enhancement is the best I can do without risk. It won’t make you stronger, but it should restore you to your peak—or at least close enough."

Anark gave a small smile, determination and gratitude burning in his eyes. Though he had hidden it well, his soul and will were indeed in a perilous state, as he burned a considerable part of it during the fight with the King of the Root. Under normal means, it would have taken decades to heal—and even that was uncertain. Now, he had a chance to recover much faster.

Cain did not hesitate. He released the flame, triggering waves of world energy cascading around Anark, then into him, merging with his ego and soul. Even weakened, executing a forty-one-color Tribulation Enhancement demanded little effort from him.

Less than two hours later, the process concluded. Anark inhaled deeply, the weight lifting from his spirit, and a radiant smile rose across his face.

He stood straighter, his aura smooth and bright, no longer trembling with hidden fractures.