Chapter 2657: Trapped

What appeared in the Demon King’s hands was a blade.

It was completely black, narrow, and elegant, forged with a single edge and a handle that seemed perfectly shaped to embrace the hand of its wielder. The weapon possessed a simple appearance, yet there was something profoundly unsettling about it, as though it embodied the inevitable end awaiting all things.

"I forged it using several materials harvested from Origin Island, along with countless treasures we obtained from the Freedom Path after their defeat," the Demon King explained.

Its appearance alone was impressive, but what truly captured Cain’s attention was the power flowing through the weapon.

His eyes glowed with scarlet and golden light as he analyzed it.

"Omens carrying the powers of death, destruction, annihilation, oblivion, and countless other manifestations of the end. This blade practically contains every iteration of finality."

The Demon King smiled proudly and nodded.

"That is correct. I personally infused it with the essence of countless souls, ensuring that the laws engraved within it were perfectly harmonized. More importantly, I tailored it specifically to your body’s unique properties."

With a wave of his hand, the blade floated toward Cain.

The moment the Scarlet King grasped its handle, he felt an astonishing sense of compatibility. The weapon merged seamlessly with the energies coursing through his body and soul, as though it had always belonged in his hand.

Slowly, Cain raised the blade and swung it downward.

The movement was casual.

The result was not.

A deep scar instantly appeared in the fabric of reality itself, stretching across the air like a wound carved into existence. The slash carried enough power to cut through a weak Alpha Omega Overgod without the slightest resistance.

The Demon King’s smile widened.

"Calling it a Fourth Realm Treasure would be an exaggeration, but with that weapon in your hands, you should have no trouble facing anything beneath the Half-Step Fourth Realm."

Although he attempted to sound modest, the pride in his voice was unmistakable.

Cain could not help but smile.

"This is incredible. I don’t know how to thank you."

The weapon immediately filled him with confidence. If things went wrong within the Sacred Dimension, possessing such a treasure could very well mean the difference between life and death.

The Demon King merely shook his head.

"There is no need for thanks. After all, I would not be standing here today if you had not defeated the Ancient One."

Cain nodded silently.

The gratitude remained in his eyes even if he did not voice it.

Soon afterward, his expression sharpened.

The determination and focus radiating from him were enough for the Demon King to understand everything.

Although the situation within the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe had stabilized for the moment, wars could change in an instant. Neither of them had time to waste.

With their immense power, crossing the barriers between realms posed no challenge.

Before long, they arrived within the Third Realm of the Crimson World and traveled toward the location of the Sacred Dimension of the Red King.

The Demon King’s eyes narrowed as the familiar crystalline landscape appeared before them once again.

The dimension remained sealed.

There was no sign that its gates would open anytime soon.

The only way to enter was to bypass conventional space and time entirely, stepping beyond the framework of the universe itself before reentering reality at a different location.

Cain took a deep breath before turning toward the Demon King.

The two exchanged a final nod.

The next moment, golden light engulfed the Scarlet King’s figure.

He vanished.

The Demon King remained where he stood.

Slowly, he closed his eyes and expanded his consciousness to its limits.

There was little he could do to aid Cain directly, but if anything happened, he intended to intervene with everything he possessed.

Meanwhile, Cain traveled through the Endless River.

Reality blurred around him as he phased through dimensions and layers of existence.

His eyes sharpened.

"This is far more difficult than I expected."

He could not help but frown.

Reaching the Sacred Dimension was proving almost as complicated as transporting his Primordial Essence from Paradise to the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe.

Yet he continued forward.

The power of the Flow obeyed his will, carrying him deeper and deeper through the golden currents until the unique dimension finally appeared before him.

Relief flashed through his eyes.

Unfortunately, it lasted only an instant.

The moment he approached the Sacred Dimension, an overwhelming force descended upon him.

Before Cain could react, that force seized his body and ripped him out of the Endless River.

The Scarlet King was hurled through space like a meteor.

A moment later, he crashed violently into the First Ring of the Sacred Dimension.

The impact shook the surrounding landscape.

Although Cain’s Hybrid Body focused primarily on strength, its vitality remained extraordinary thanks to the nature of his Scarlet Bloodline and unique constitution.

Within seconds, he pushed himself back to his feet.

He barely paid attention to the condition of his body.

Instead, a deep frown appeared on his face.

"I can’t return to the Endless River."

Cain immediately attempted to reconnect with the Flow.

Nothing happened.

The connection remained intact, but the Sacred Dimension itself prevented him from entering the Endless River.

The realization caused his grip on the black blade to tighten.

For a brief moment, irritation flickered through his eyes.

Being trapped was never pleasant.

Fortunately, the feeling vanished just as quickly.

His expression turned calm and cold.

"Fine."

His gaze focused on the endless path stretching before him.

"It’s not as if I intended to leave without obtaining what I came here for."

Without hesitation, Cain began moving forward.

It seemed that even with all his current power, he could not completely ignore the rules established by the Red King. If he wished to reach the core of the Sacred Dimension, he would need to pass through each ring one by one.

Fortunately, that posed no real problem.

His mastery over the Flow had long since surpassed what it had been during his first visit.

In truth, revisiting the foundations of the Flow might even prove beneficial.

As Cain advanced through the crystalline landscape, he did not rush recklessly toward the center.

Instead, he used the journey as an opportunity to refine his understanding of the Flow, revisiting principles he had learned long ago and viewing them through the lens of his current strength.

Sometimes, true growth did not come from reaching higher.

Sometimes, it came from returning to the beginning and finally understanding what had been there all along.