The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 2396: Choosing a new body

After a long moment, the Scarlet King finally sighed.

This place was extremely strange, filled with countless mysteries that stirred his curiosity, yet he knew he could not solve any of them in his current condition.

More importantly, uncovering mysteries was not his priority. Returning to his family and friends mattered far more.

"I need to fully learn how to harmonize with The Flow," Cain thought, "and gain control over my movement."

Clearing his mind of everything except the endless current surrounding him, the Scarlet King continued with his days.

Each day, Cain’s understanding deepened. He learned a little more about the nature of The Flow, refining his control and growing stronger in the process. The power of The Flow did not merely cleanse his Primordial Essence—it enhanced it.

At the beginning of this journey, his Primordial Essence had been only a few meters tall, faint and unstable. But after more than two months, it had grown to the size of a building. Even without his physical body, ego, or the remaining portions of his soul, the power radiating from his form had reached the limits of the Arch-Deity Rank.

Of course, this growth was not endless.

It was bound directly to Cain’s understanding and mastery of The Flow. The better he harmonized with it, the stronger he became—but once his comprehension stalled, so did his growth.

Finally, on the first day of the sixth month, Cain’s eyes glowed brightly.

A tremor rippled across his form as he stopped drifting with the current. For the first time since entering The Flow, he remained perfectly still while the endless stream rushed past him. Slowly, a wide smile spread across his face.

He moved.

Cain swam through the current, his Primordial Essence gliding like a fish through a river. Moving against the flow was more difficult, but not exhausting. More importantly, he could stop whenever he wished.

"Success!"

Cain clenched his fists in triumph. He had done it.

He was now one with the endless current that connected all things, able to preserve his mind, memories, and desires without being unraveled by its overwhelming power.

Determination and conviction burned in his eyes as he began to move with purpose.

His destination was clear.

The Nine Empyrean Suns Universe.

Finding the downward stream that had brought him to this place was easy. Cain followed it until he felt the familiar pull. But the moment he attempted to rise against it, his eyes widened.

"I... can’t."

Moving against the current was one thing. Moving upward through it was something entirely different.

"No! I need to return!"

Cain roared in his mind and surged upward with all his power. His Primordial Essence rose for a few seconds—then was violently pushed back down.

It felt like asking a fish to swim up a waterfall.

The Scarlet King tried again and again, but the result never changed. His Primordial Essence was simply not powerful enough to use The Flow to travel between universes.

"I’m stuck here."

Rage and frustration twisted across Cain’s expression. The entire reason he had merged with The Flow was to heal himself and return to those he cared about. He had succeeded in cleansing his essence—but now he was trapped in a completely different universe, with no way to contact his family or allies.

For all Cain knew, the Tenth Empyrean World might still be acting. More Curse Eaters could have invaded the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe, unleashing devastation in his absence.

Those thoughts made it difficult to think clearly.

Yet Cain’s mind and mentality had evolved exponentially during his journey through the current that connected all things. It took only a few minutes for him to calm himself and stop attempting to rise through The Flow.

"I lack the strength," he admitted. "So I need to gain it."

Determination flared within him as he prepared for a new path forward.

Cain examined his Primordial Essence and quickly realized that it was no longer growing. The Flow had saturated him as much as it could. If he wished to become stronger, he would need to evolve on his own.

A solemn light appeared in his eyes as he reviewed the process he had undergone.

"The first step is entering The Flow," Cain reflected. "The second is finding balance—becoming part of it while retaining my individuality. The final step... is breaking free and returning to the physical plane."

And for that, the key was purpose.

To break free from The Flow, one needed something deeply rooted within themselves—something they desired so intensely that it could tear them free from the endless current that connected all reality.

Fortunately, Cain already had that.

"Before I begin," he muttered, "I need a proper vessel."

A dangerous light flickered in his eyes. Existing purely as Primordial Essence was far too risky. He needed a body—something that could contain his existence, allow him to explore, cultivate, and grow stronger.

His thoughts turned to the people he had seen in the city.

He could seize the body of someone at the Arch-Deity Rank, but their talent and potential were lacking. Worse still, such a vessel would actually restrict his Primordial Essence rather than empower it.

The beings at the center of the city were different. Their potential was far greater—but so was their strength. Possessing them would be difficult, and resistance was guaranteed.

Even if he could succeed, there were few of them, and if they realized that an alien entity suddenly taken control over one of their kind, they could try to kill Cain.

In the end, Cain shook his head.

They weren’t worthy.

He had a better idea.

After several hours of travel, a smile slowly formed on his face. Beneath him stretched an ocean—vast beyond imagination. Its surface alone covered nearly a tenth of an Empyrean World.

And every single drop of it was blood.

There were all kinds of massive and majestic entities inside this ocean, but Cain was not aiming at them.

"My new body... will be an ocean."