Chapter 2697: Emptiness’s horde

Cain couldn’t help but wear a complicated expression as he heard the true Samsara Lord’s words. For a very long time, Cain had respected, and in some ways even venerated, the almighty figure who had forged the Samsara Arsenal. After all, thanks to that mysterious module, he had been able to overcome many of the great tribulations he had faced throughout his life.

In truth, it would not be wrong to say that Cain would have failed to save Aether had the Samsara Arsenal Module not existed to support him and his forces during their battle against the Depravitas of Dark Sky.

However, this particular battle had been different. It had been an incredibly dangerous trial in which a single mistake could have cost Cain not only his life, but the lives of entire worlds. Given the righteous nature attributed to the Samsara Lord, Cain could not help but wonder why such a powerful existence had not intervened before things had reached that point.

If the Samsara Lord had manifested through his Incarnation and stopped the battle, things would have been much simpler.

As those thoughts crossed Cain’s mind, Apex’s voice suddenly echoed through his soul.

"Boy, do not lose yourself in useless thoughts. The behavior of Eternals is not something that those who have only just reached the Fourth Realm can understand."

Apex’s voice was sharp and direct, making it clear that Cain was still far too young to comprehend the motives and behavior of an existence like the Samsara Lord. Cain could understand the reasoning behind those words, but understanding something and accepting it were two entirely different matters.

The golden humanoid standing at the bottom of Cain’s soul could clearly see his state of mind. After allowing him a few moments to process everything, Apex continued.

"First of all, the Samsara Lord owes you nothing. On the contrary, you owe him. Therefore, had he manifested through the Incarnation and defeated you, he would have had every right to do so."

Those words struck Cain like a rock. After a moment of silence, he could not help but nod.

Apex, however, was not finished.

"On the other hand, had he stopped the battle, things might have been even worse."

Cain frowned in confusion.

"Worse?"

"Yes. Nito and the Incarnation were great trials, but the greatest tribulation of the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe has yet to reveal itself."

Cain’s eyes slowly widened as enlightenment flashed through them. His gaze turned toward the distant void, toward the direction of the vast territory beyond the Universal Wall.

"The Tenth Empyrean World King..."

"That is right."

Apex’s expression remained calm.

"You are a Fourth Realm life form now. You cannot expect others to make things easier for you. Doing so would only harm your path. Not to mention that developing a causality bond with an existence as powerful as the Samsara Lord would not be wise."

The more Cain listened, the more he understood.

This battle had been one that he needed to win himself. It had not merely been a fight against the Incarnation of the Samsara Lord; it had been the final trial necessary for Cain to complete his transformation.

Through this battle, he had not only reached the Fourth Realm, but had also actualized his entire existence into a completely new state. His Asura Form had evolved, his Fourth Realm Forces had finally harmonized, and, at the very end, he had given birth to Omega Horizon.

Had the Samsara Lord halted the battle, Cain might never have awakened that power. Perhaps he would have eventually reached it, but there was no guarantee that he would have done so before the coming catastrophe.

And by then, it might have been too late.

"Argh..."

Cain eventually sighed, allowing the complicated emotions in his heart to settle. He then clasped his hands together and gave a small bow toward the place where the Incarnation of the Samsara Lord had disappeared.

"I hope we see each other again as well, Lord."

There were not many beings worthy of Cain’s absolute respect. The Samsara Lord was definitely one of them.

For a brief moment, everything became peaceful.

Then—

"CRACK!"

A sharp cracking sound echoed through the void.

Cain immediately turned around, and his expression changed.

A massive section of the Universal Wall was beginning to shatter.

The battle against the Incarnation of the Samsara Lord, especially the final clash between Samsara End and Omega Horizon, had released energy on an apocalyptic scale. The shockwaves had spread across the surrounding void, violently shaking the already damaged structure of the Universal Wall. The section closest to the battlefield had finally reached its limit.

With a thunderous roar, the enormous structure collapsed inward, creating a massive hole through the barrier that had separated the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe from the Emptiness for countless ages.

Yet the destruction of the wall was far from the worst part.

Countless eyes began glowing on the other side.

They were accompanied by countless distorted silhouettes.

Eyes filled with hunger.

Hunger.

Greed.

Brutality.

Like sharks drawn to blood, creatures dwelling within the Emptiness had been attracted by the tremendous release of energy produced during the battle between the Scarlet King and the Incarnation of the Samsara Lord. Normally, the Universal Wall prevented them from entering the universe, leaving them trapped beyond its boundary.

But now there was a hole.

And nothing stood between them and their prey.

"ROOOAAARRR!"

"SHRIIIK!"

"GUUUAAARRR!"

Roars, shrieks, growls, and countless other bestial sounds echoed through the void as an ocean of horrifying and mutated creatures surged toward the opening. Their exact forms were difficult to discern from such a distance, but the sheer number of them made the swarm resemble a living tide, one capable of consuming everything in its path.

The warriors of the Six Sacred Races did not even have time to celebrate the Scarlet King’s victory before they witnessed that horrifying ocean of monsters marching into their home.

They could not clearly see the creatures’ forms, but their presence alone was enough to send chills through countless souls.

Even if they were nothing more than mindless beasts driven entirely by instinct, they were still an immense threat. Every single one of them was an entity capable of surviving within the Emptiness, meaning their strength was by no means insignificant.

And there were thousands of them.

Cain stood directly before the approaching swarm, his body still carrying the wounds and exhaustion left behind by his battle with the Samsara Incarnation. His gaze swept across the countless monsters as they rushed toward him with nothing but hunger and greed in their eyes.

They could sense his strength.

They could also sense his weakness.

To them, this was the greatest opportunity imaginable.

If they could devour someone as powerful as the Scarlet King, perhaps they would absorb enough energy and laws to evolve beyond their current limitations.

Perhaps they could transcend their natural boundaries.

Perhaps, by consuming Cain, one of these creatures could evolve into a true sovereign of the Emptiness.

The swarm surged forward.

Cain remained motionless.

Then, slowly, the corner of his mouth rose into a smile.

Cain glanced at the horde marching toward him, yet there was nothing on his face but cold indifference. It was true that he was weak after burning through nearly all his power during the battle against the Incarnation of the Samsara Lord. Directly confronting such a massive horde in his current state would be dangerous, perhaps even lethal, especially since many of the creatures possessed the strength of Peak Alpha Omega Overgods.

However, Cain did not need to face them himself.

He possessed something far more suitable for dealing with beasts like these.

Cain slowly raised his hand, his gaze remaining fixed upon the approaching swarm.

"Rise, Scarlet Throne!"

The moment those three words echoed through the void, the surrounding space began to tremble.

A deep crimson radiance emerged behind Cain, spreading outward like an enormous sunrise in the darkness. Space itself distorted as a colossal gate began to manifest, growing larger and larger until its sheer scale surpassed that of an Empyrean World.

It was the Scarlet Throne.

Yet this time, it did not appear merely as an energy construct.

It looked like a gateway forged from the collective existence of countless life forms.

Its surface was covered in endless patterns resembling countless intertwined souls. On one side was the will and ego of all those that had stood in the path of the Scarlet King and were locked for all eternity in a realm where their minds enter an endless cycle of suffering.

On the other were the warriors of the Crimson World that had fallen to the hands of the Scarlet King, and whose life force had been sealed for all eternity in the throne.

And right in the middle were entities representing the will, struggles, dreams, hatred, hope, and determination of the beings who had chosen the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe as their home.

Scarlet flames burned between the enormous pillars, while countless crimson chains coiled around the structure like living serpents.

The gate radiated an ancient majesty that made the void itself seem insignificant.

Then, with a deafening rumble, the Scarlet Throne opened.

Beyond it lay a vast crimson realm.

Mountains of scarlet crystal stretched across an endless horizon, while rivers of brilliant energy flowed between them like blood coursing through the veins of a colossal being. Countless stars illuminated the distant skies, and beneath them stood an immense throne surrounded by an ocean of scarlet light.

The monsters slowed.

For the first time, hunger was replaced by instinctive fear.

Then—

"BOOM!"

Massive crimson chains erupted from within the Scarlet Throne.

They tore through the void like divine serpents, crossing enormous distances in an instant before violently piercing into the approaching horde. One after another, the creatures were seized, bound, and dragged toward the open gate.