The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 2314: Outmaneuvered by the Ancient One

"Kill the Ancient One."

There was absolute coldness and brutality in Cain’s eyes when he spoke those words. The declaration carried the weight of conviction, but a moment later, pragmatism returned to him like a cold wind cutting through fire.

Cain was no lunatic. He understood his limitation. He was strong, but he was still far from being capable of killing someone who stood at the peak of the Alpha-Omega Overgod Rank. Reality mattered, and wishing did not make him omnipotent.

So, for now, the real objective had to be far simpler.

"Stop him from reaching the King of the Crimson World."

That was something he could do. It would not solve everything, nor would it bring a permanent end to the coming crisis, but it would buy time—time to prevent the unification of universes, and time for Cain to grow stronger, hopefully strong enough to one day kill the Ancient One for good.

His gaze sharpened.

"How close is the Ancient One to breaking the limit of the Crimson World and reaching the King?"

A somber expression appeared on the Demon King’s face as he heard that question.

"He already found the path forward."

After a small sigh, the Demon King continued.

"The only way to reach the King of the Crimson World is by crossing the Eternity Gate, and that gate is located within the Origin Island—a unique dimension hidden inside the Ninth Realm. To access it, you must forge a Crimson Key using the essence of the nine Realms, something one could only obtain by dominating the entire Realm."

Cain frowned as he heard that. Even if things had gone catastrophically bad in the upper Realms, the Second Realm had never fallen—thanks to him—and the Third Realm was even in a winning position. There was no reason a Crimson Key should exist.

The Demon King, seeing the confusion in Cain’s eyes, nodded. "Although there are some Realms where we are not doing great, we have not lost in any of them. So a Crimson Key should not have been able to appear. But the Ancient One forged the pieces using something else—something equally responsive to the core energy of each Realm."

Cain analyzed those words for a moment. A flash of realization struck him like a blade of lightning. "The lives of the cultivators of those Realms."

A complicated smile appeared on the Demon King as he nodded to Cain. "That is right. The war I began to stop the Ancient One from reaching the Origin Island was exactly the fuel he used to forge the Crimson Key."

It was not easy for him to admit it, but the Demon King could not deny that the Ancient One had outmaneuvered him. However, he did not dwell on that defeat. He had already begun searching for a new way forward.

"With the Key in his possession, he will be able to open the barrier into the Origin Island. However, between opening it and actually reaching the Eternity Gate, there is a long journey. As long as we reach it first and stop them from crossing until the Origin Island fades, we will have won enough time to think of our next move."

Cain nodded to the Demon King. It would not be easy. It would be extremely bloody. The Ancient One would bring his strongest warriors into the Origin Island. And a place that guarded access to the King of the Crimson World was guaranteed to be unique, hazardous, and unlike anything they had experienced.

"What knowledge do you have about the Origin Island?"

The Demon King shook his head slowly.

"During the Great War, we were about to reach it, but Adam stopped us before we ever set foot inside. It only remained for a few years, and after vanishing, it took a long time before a new opening arose. By then, I was already sealed by Adam’s Power of Chaos, so I do not know what happened."

"It seems that it will be a journey full of surprises," Cain muttered. He hated having so many variables, so many unknowns, but there was no path around it. The only way forward was to continue.

He asked again, more focused, "When and where will the Ancient One use the Crimson Key to access the Origin Island?"

Once more, the Demon King answered Cain’s question immediately.

"The opening must be during an eclipse. The next one was supposed to happen in twenty-five years, but the Ancient One has already interfered with the natural order to speed things up. I left part of my soul in the fabric of the Ninth Realm to slow it, but that influence will not last long. As for where..."

The Demon King gave Cain a meaningful glance at this point.

"That is where you come in. Only the holder of the Crimson Key can know where the opening to the Origin Island will appear. However, the Power of Chaos can show you anything—even the opening of a new dimension on the other edge of the Realm."

Cain showed a small smile as he finally understood why the Demon King was so interested in meeting him. Cain was powerful, but he was still far from reaching the absolute summit of the powerhouses in the Crimson World. Yet the Power of Chaos allowed him to do something nobody else could. With it, no matter how well the Ancient One tried to hide things, Cain would be able to detect the dimensional opening and reach it.

"Then let’s not waste time."

Determination and focus appeared in Cain’s bright red eyes. The journey into the Origin Island would be dangerous—dangerous enough that many Alpha-Omega Overgods would perish—but Cain could not retreat. If he stepped back now, the future would be sealed in blood and extinction.

The Demon King nodded once, approving of Cain’s mindset. Then his eyes turned toward Meylin and the Enlightened One in the distance. The duo had already fused the treasures into their bodies and souls. As the Demon King focused on them, he sensed faint tremors in their souls and auras, and that made him smile.

"They can come."

They had achieved full synchronization with the treasures, and the evolution toward the Alpha-Omega Overgod Rank was already underway. They would have the strength to face what came next—or at the very least, not die immediately.