Chapter 2653: Back to the Crimson World

The Crimson World.

It had been a very long time since Cain had last set foot in it.

The universe was unique in its form. Rather than existing as an endless expanse of stars, it possessed the structure of a colossal tower composed of nine great realms stacked upon one another. As one ascended through those realms, the laws governing reality grew stronger, the energy density increased, and destiny itself became more tangible and profound.

Over the last two centuries, the Crimson World had endured one of the greatest cataclysms in its history since the Great War more than 3 billion years ago.

The forces of the Freedom Path, led by the Ancient One and his Neo-Angels, had clashed against the forces of the Life Path under the command of the Demon King and his True Depravitas. The conflict had spread across all nine realms, engulfing the entire universe in bloodshed and destruction.

Countless civilizations were drawn into the war.

Entire continents were reduced to ruins.

Legends rose and fell amid the flames.

In the end, however, the war had not been decided by a final clash between the Ancient One and the Demon King.

Instead, its outcome had been determined at the Eternity Gate.

It was there that the Scarlet King underwent a transcendent evolution, becoming the forefather of an Apex Race, and defeated the Ancient One, shattering the Freedom Path’s ambitions and bringing the war to an end.

The Demon King had never cared for glory or personal recognition. Rather than claiming the achievement for himself, he allowed the truth to spread throughout the universe.

As a result, the name of the Scarlet King became known across every realm of the Crimson World.

Statues honoring him could be found in countless cities and kingdoms.

Songs celebrated his deeds.

Stories of his victory were told to children.

To the people of the Crimson World, Cain was no longer merely a warrior.

He had become a living legend.

Currently, the Crimson World stood in a rare period of peace.

For the first time in centuries, the constant state of war that had engulfed the nine realms had come to an end. The armies of the Freedom Path had been shattered, while the surviving Neo-Angels and their followers had vanished into the shadows alongside the Ancient One.

Of course, the Demon King was not foolish enough to believe that the threat had truly disappeared.

He understood better than anyone how dangerous the Ancient One was.

A man capable of plunging an entire universe into war would never simply accept defeat and disappear forever.

Not to mention that there was a clear connection between the Ancient One and Adam, one of the most important people for the Demon King.

Because of that, the Demon King had launched one of the largest search operations in the history of the Crimson World.

He personally led the most powerful True Depravitas across all nine realms, searching every hidden dimension, every forgotten ruin, and every secret territory that might conceal the Ancient One.

Yet no matter what methods they employed, they found nothing.

The Ancient One had hidden himself so deeply that it was as if he had completely vanished from existence.

Even the Demon King eventually had to admit defeat.

The search was futile.

Rather than waste more time and resources chasing a ghost, he redirected his efforts toward rebuilding the Crimson World.

The war had left countless scars.

Entire regions had been devastated.

The foundations of several realms had suffered severe damage. After all, the war involved the clash of several high-level Alpha-Omega Overgods that went all out, not caring about the collateral damage.

If another war were to erupt in the future, the Crimson World needed to be ready.

At that very moment, the Demon King was overseeing the restoration of one of the upper realms.

His imposing figure stood above mountains and seas while countless experts worked beneath his supervision.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed.

A meaningful light appeared within them as his gaze shifted toward the horizon.

No.

Beyond the horizon.

Beyond continents, realms, and dimensions.

He was looking downward.

Toward one particular location.

Toward one kingdom.

The Sacred Kingdom of the Scarlet King.

A faint smile appeared on the Demon King’s face.

Without hesitation, he sent a brief message through the universe’s communication network before his figure vanished from sight.

Meanwhile, at the very heart of the Sacred Kingdom of the Scarlet King, inside a grand palace that had remained sealed for decades, a solitary figure sat motionless.

The body had not moved in several decades.

Dust could not touch it.

Time seemed unable to affect it.

The figure sat there in complete silence, resembling a perfectly preserved statue.

Were it not for the steady rhythm of a beating heart, anyone who saw him would have believed he was dead.

For decades, countless people had come to pay their respects.

Many had prayed before him.

Others had sought inspiration from the presence of the legendary hero who had saved the Crimson World.

Yet through all those years, he had never opened his eyes.

Until now.

A single heartbeat echoed.

Then another.

The rhythm grew stronger.

The air throughout the palace began to tremble.

Streams of energy surged from every direction, rushing toward the silent figure like rivers flowing into an ocean.

At last, the man’s eyes opened.

The moment they did, an immeasurable pressure swept across the kingdom.

The entire realm trembled.

The laws of the realm stirred as though welcoming the return of their master.

Countless citizens looked toward the palace with expressions of shock.

Power.

Boundless power.

Power that had remained dormant for a long time suddenly awakened.

Golden and crimson light burned within those eyes.

The aura released by the figure was so overwhelming that even rulers of Eternal Kingdoms felt their hearts tremble.

Yet despite the terrifying might radiating from him, there was a profound calmness within his gaze.

The figure slowly rose to his feet.

As he did, the energy flooding the palace became even more violent.

The dormant body forged from the fusion of a Neo-Demon and a Neo-Angel had finally awakened.

And within it now resided a True Name that had evolved to the limit of the Third Realm!