The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 2318: No longer a shark inside a small pond

Cain took a moment to analyze the situation and could not help but remember the quote about fish.

In the Crimson World and in the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe, he had been like a shark inside a small pond—every movement he made created repercussions that could be felt in all directions. Even the slightest ripple of his power distorted laws.

But now he had been thrown into an ocean. His power remained exactly the same, yet the new environment was vastly more capable of handling it. Nothing bent beneath him. Nothing trembled. His existence no longer distorted the fabric of reality.

As he reached that conclusion, a meaningful light appeared in Cain’s eyes. "The stronger the realm, the more powerful its energy will be—and the more one will benefit from nurturing oneself with it."

Taking a deep breath, Cain attempted to mobilize the energy around him and draw it into his flesh.

The very moment that energy began to flow into his body, he felt a burning sensation. It was as if he were drawing molten fire directly into his bones. His flesh and meridians screamed in protest, reacting violently to the foreign power, and for a moment, he prepared to shut down his circulation technique entirely.

Yet just as Cain was about to stop, his True Name trembled inside the depths of his existence. A mysterious power emerged from it, flooding every inch of his body in a stabilizing current. The violent rejection vanished. The energy of Origin Island no longer burned or tried to tear him apart. Instead, it began to flow smoothly through his organs, bones, and soul, nourishing both without resistance.

"Amazing," Cain whispered, a smile of pure thrill breaking across his lips. He could feel how pure this energy was—cleaner and stronger even than Origin Power. It did not increase his offensive strength or battle might, but it refined the foundation of his flesh and spirit.

Although he was confused as to why his True Name had reacted in such a manner, the mysterious and almighty nature of True Names made such reactions credible. If anything, it was consistent with the sort of unfathomable authority they held.

He did not waste time dwelling on mysteries and instead focused on his goal. "Ultimately, I need to find the Eternity Gate and prevent anyone from crossing. However, before that, I must find the others."

Cain was not arrogant enough to assume he could succeed alone. Although he had failed to properly see the appearance of the Neo-Angels due to the visual distortion of their auras, he had felt their souls, and many of them were far stronger than he was. Against those beings, Cain alone was not enough.

Unfortunately, reaching the other would not be easy. His perception and scanning powers were severely weakened in this place. He could not even send a message, not even through the Scarlet Sun sealed inside Meylin’s soul.

However, that was not all the power he possessed. The Flow and the Power of Chaos manifested in the next second. They too were suppressed by the overwhelming rules of this dimension, yet they managed to express themselves with far greater stability than the rest of his abilities, as if their fundamental nature aligned with the laws that ruled this realm.

That was excellent news. While he could not pinpoint exact locations, he could sense a general direction where his allies might be.

Without wasting another moment, Cain began to move forward. Despite time being his enemy, he did not act carelessly. He constantly analyzed the surroundings as he advanced deeper into the island.

Origin Island was filled with flora of incredible beauty—towering trees, radiant vines, crystalline leaves—everything seemed nurtured by transcendent laws and energies. But despite the breathtaking scenery, Cain could not shake a deep-rooted sense of danger. Every rock, every blade of grass, every gust of air seemed capable of slaughtering life that did not belong here.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, and he halted his advance as a strange creature emerged between the colossal trunks.

What appeared before him stood nearly five times his size, with a bulging blue body, a small horn jutting from its forehead, and crosses etched crudely across its chest. The most unsettling element was its expression. It was smiling, but the smile was empty. Its eyes lacked awareness or intent—hollow and unfocused.

"It resembles a lobotomized patient," Cain muttered, unable to avoid the comparison.

Before he could study the creature further, it kicked the ground and launched itself toward him. Cain sidestepped the attack effortlessly, his gaze tracing the deep imprint left by the creature’s attack.

The abomination did not stop. It continued chasing him, releasing a barrage of physical blows filled with killing intent, yet still wearing that empty smile as though its emotions had been carved out.

After a few seconds of analysis, Cain narrowed his eyes. He had enough information.

"It relies only on physical power, but I can sense the energy of this dimension coursing through its flesh and blood. Its battle power matches that of an ArchDeity."

It was not difficult to deduce what this meant. These creatures appeared to be guardians—mindless, soulless. Their lack of sentience marked them as low-tier defenders. And yet, if even the lowest tier possessed power comparable to ArchDeities, then whatever lay ahead in the hierarchy of this realm would be terrifying beyond measure.

Having gathered his data, Cain flashed forward and delivered a single blow to the creature’s chest. He could have destroyed it, but he chose only to paralyze its nervous system. In the next instant, he summoned the Scarlet Throne, grabbed the creature by the skull, and tossed it into the living construct.

The Scarlet Throne immediately began dismantling the abomination, assimilating its energy, vitality, and a large portion of its soul. But as the process neared the final fraction of the creature—the core essence—the Throne suddenly froze. Then his body began to tremble violently.

Cain remembered the moment he had attempted to consume the Power of the Root. The reaction now was nearly identical. The essence sustaining this abomination, the spark that allowed its life, existed at a level surpassing the Scarlet Throne’s current ceiling. It could not assimilate it without assistance.

Fortunately, just as in the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe, a red force emanated instinctively from the core of the Scarlet Throne, adapting its structure to the foreign energy and allowing the assimilation process to continue. Cain regained control, though a complicated expression settled onto his face.

He could feel how that spark was pushing the Scarlet Throne toward a higher level. But recognizing that progress did nothing to erase the danger he had just faced. This was a casual, wandering guardian—mindless, thoughtless, a biological husk—yet it could match an ArchDeity. And its essence nearly overwhelmed his greatest devouring power.

"This place is really dangerous," Cain murmured. The ocean he had entered was deeper than he imagined—and its depths were waiting to drown anything unworthy.