The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 2170: The World Will of the Everstrife Empyrean World

Cain frowned slightly as he looked upon the two figures standing before his throne. The first, the old man, he recognized instantly. He was Ao, the former World Will of Aether, who had long since transcended his original vessel and become a sentient consciousness spread throughout the Everstrife Empyrean World.

But the second presence, the small child with red eyes and a faint aura of innocence, was unfamiliar.

Yet, as Cain studied him, he sensed something... familiar.

The current of the Flow rippled softly through his senses, connecting the three of them. His golden eyes narrowed.

"Is this...?"

A knowing glint flickered in Cain’s gaze as he spoke, and Ao nodded gently, a faint smile creasing his ancient face.

"Yes, Scarlet King," Ao said, his tone serene yet proud. He turned toward the boy beside him. "His name is Aioro. He is the World Will of the Everstrife Empyrean World. Forgive the intrusion, but he was eager to meet you."

Cain studied the child carefully. The boy’s red eyes glimmered with unguarded curiosity, awe, and a trace of reverence. The intent behind his gaze was pure, not the scrutiny of a rival, but the wonder of one meeting his creator.

Cain could feel the raw power coiled within the boy’s small frame, but he also sensed something genuine, almost tender. Unlike some old monsters that chose young vessels to disguise their old mental age, the boy was really young.

Aioro’s youth, however, puzzled him, as it made little sense. The Everstrife Empyrean World was unimaginably ancient; its World Will should have been a vast and timeless consciousness, not a child.

Ao, sensing the question in the Scarlet King’s silence, smiled again. "While the World Will of the Everstrife World has indeed existed since time’s dawn," he began, his voice taking on a scholarly calm, "its conscious form, its awareness, had never fully manifested. Until now."

A subtle aura of wisdom surrounded Ao as he continued, his words rich with the cadence of one who had studied existence itself.

"As you already know, a World Will is an extension of the collective thoughts, dreams, and beliefs of all who live within it. The greater the population, the harder it becomes for their countless minds to harmonize into a single, cohesive consciousness."

Understanding dawned in Cain’s eyes.

Due to the endless wars and divisions that plagued the Everstrife Empyrean World, centuries of slaughter, chaos, and isolation, its inhabitants had never shared a unified purpose. There had never been enough resonance among them to give the World Will a distinct mind.

That was, until the rise of the Scarlet Path.

It was more than an ideology; it was a unifying force. It had woven together the wills of countless beings, bridging the gaps of race, origin, and creed. Through that shared conviction, the pursuit of self-determination, freedom, and evolution, the scattered consciousness of the world had finally found harmony.

That harmony had given birth to Aioro.

Ao nodded as if confirming Cain’s thoughts. "Aioro began to gestate during the war between the Scarlet Kingdom and the Imperium of Time. Only after more than half of the world’s population accepted the Scarlet Path did he finally awaken, his consciousness taking form."

As Ao spoke, he placed a gentle hand on the boy’s shoulder. Aioro’s expression shifted from awe to resolve. He took a careful step forward, his robe glinting in the dim light, and clasped his hands together in formal salute.

"I, Aioro, salute you, Scarlet King," the boy said. His voice was clear but still soft, the tone of a child who had learned courtesy only recently. "May we work together, in respect and purpose, to guide the people of the Everstrife World into an era of enlightenment and evolution."

Cain watched the child closely, the golden light of the Flow shimmering in his eyes as it pierced through Aioro’s emotions and intent. What he saw there made him nod inwardly.

"His soul is young... and so are his emotions and mind," Cain thought. "He is powerful, but still growing, still learning what it means to be."

He rose from his throne, his crimson mantle sweeping across the polished stone, and returned the gesture. "I salute you as well, Aioro, World Will of the Everstrife Empyrean World. May our bond be prosperous and our alliance fruitful."

Aioro’s face brightened with pride at the words, his form flickering faintly with spiritual light.

After the formalities were done, Cain’s tone softened. "It was a pleasure meeting you," he said kindly. "But there’s something I must discuss with Ao, privately."

Aioro looked between the two of them, curiosity lingering in his eyes. When Ao gave him a nod, the boy bowed respectfully and vanished in a ripple of red light.

The moment he was gone, Cain’s energy flared. Waves of power filled the chamber as he summoned a protective veil, an isolated dimension sealed from all perception, even that of the World Will. The air grew still, heavy with the hum of restrained might.

Cain’s expression hardened. His eyes, once warm, now gleamed with sharp intent.

"I thought you were going to become the World Will of the Everstrife Empyrean World," he said, his tone edged with concern. "That you would take full control of it and serve as its consciousness."

There could not exist two World Wills in a single realm. The emergence of Aioro complicated things deeply. And while Cain’s ruthlessness was legendary, he had never turned it upon children. No matter how extraordinary Aioro was, he was a child.

Ao only smiled, understanding the Scarlet King’s thoughts. "I told you I would handle the World Will," he said calmly. "But I never said I would become it."

Cain’s gaze sharpened. Ao’s expression, in turn, grew solemn, his voice now carrying the gravity of one who had weighed a very important decision.

"To take control of the World Will," Ao explained, "I would have had to merge with it, completely. That process would have erased or, at best, severely twisted my own personality. I would have ceased to be myself, transformed into something new. A being of purpose, yes, but without identity."

A brief silence passed between them.

"Of course," Ao continued, "had that been necessary to ensure the rise of this world and its people, I would have done it without hesitation." His eyes gleamed with quiet conviction. "But Aioro’s birth changed everything. Given the circumstances of his origin, he was born with an instinctive sense of justice, prosperity, and freedom."

Cain’s eyes softened, a faint smile curving his lips. "The ideals of the Scarlet Path," he said.

Ao nodded. "Exactly. I have guided him from the very beginning, teaching him the truth of the world, the balance of creation, and how to nurture its people rather than rule them. I am confident that when the time comes, he will be ready. Not as a weapon, but as an ally. A guardian who shares your dream."

Cain said nothing for a long while, his gaze distant and thoughtful. Then, slowly, he nodded.