The Tale of the Void Emperor

"Damn, the smell is so nice," Theo spoke before gulping.

"Yeah, it looks like this meal is going to be very tasty," Sen spoke as she was ready with forks in her hands.

"Tasty and energizing too," Avelia spoke as she waved her hand in the giant burning pot filled with pieces of meat, "I have brought many seasonings and other ingredients, hehe."

Everyone was sitting on a temporary grassy land made by Athan. Lady Fu and Zorgia created several barriers around them as they didn't want to get interrupted while eating.

The food was ready after an hour, and everyone ate and drank to full.

Avelia cooked the food with regeneration buff using her Mystic Chef's powers as Athan and others got high body recovery buff, and their body also got stronger due to the powerful energy in the meat of Evagon-grade beasts.

Now they will quickly recover from injuries for one day. 

After eating the food, Tiana, Linci, and others continued with their training while Athan and Drizzly went hunting once again for practice. Athan also wanted to master a new defensive essence order technique of Grandmaster-grade, Forest of Garoyal.

After all, he had no problem training in higher-grade techniques due to his powerful soul and superior comprehension ability.

'Oh yeah, I should be able to comprehend and master the third level of Cloud of Chaos and even fourth as well...,' Athan thought while flying deeper into the dimension with Drizzly.

He decided to train in the next levels of the cloud of chaos after mastering Forest of Garoyal.

...

Four months passed as Tiana, Avelia, Linci, and others managed to break through to the 2nd order of Zen order elite by creating their first mini-chaotic worlds one by one with only a day of difference.

They informed Athan about it, and he and Drizzly arrived on a large cloud crackling with golden lightning. There was a cloudly barrier on the cloud as well.

Seeing it, Lady Fu, Zorgia, and others were surprised.

"That's the 6th level of Cloud of Chaos, Shackle Break Cloud!" Lady Fu said with a surprised expression, "With that, you will probably be able to outrun most of the peak-stage Evagon-grade beast that doesn't have superior flying capabilities."

Athan nodded with a grin, "Yeah, I didn't expect that I would be able to enter 6th level as well. Although this level is a bit hard since the clouds in this stage are literally teleporting and coming out of my grasp even if I catch them."

Lady Fu nodded with a wry smile and said, "Well, that's because you just entered the stage. Spend some more time training in that stage, and you will be able to comprehend the mystery of the space. You have to study the patterns of those clouds and grasp the space order sets."

"I figured that, and it will likely take me two-three months to do that," Athan said with a smile, "After that, I will be able to do simple teleportation as well. At least as long as I am in Midgard continent."

"Yep," Lady Fu nodded.

"So, Athan. What are we going to do next?" Avelia asked.

Athan waved his hand as two dead giant chaos beasts appeared; one was a duck-like beast but with four pairs of wings and deadly talons, while the other beast was like a bear but with two heads and dark orange with silver patterns on its body. The bear's hands were unique as instead of claw-like hands, they were large drums with eccentric and vein-like patterns.

Before Athan could say anything, Avelia said, "Alright, I know. But some of you first remove their external skin and take out their organs while I prepare my ingredients and seasonings."

...

After everyone had a good meal, Athan told them his plans.

"Now, we will go deeper into the dimension, at a more troubling and dangerous atmosphere," Athan said as he and Lady Fu used their cloud of chaos to create two large cloud platforms, and everyone hopped onto it.

As they flew deeper into the dimension, they encountered two Evagon-grade beasts but took care of them.

Tiana and others observed the battle carefully and were speechless, as always seeing Athan beaten to half death but getting up like those injuries were invisible to him.

"Sigh...even though he was pretty tough and could endure, it was not to this extent," Tiana spoke softly with a sad expression, "I wonder what he experienced that made him like this."

Avelia sniffed as she said, "Something that we can't imagine."

Tiana, Sen, Linci, Shiromi, and others nodded.

After traveling for half a day, they arrived at a more dangerous environment where the atmosphere was dark red and filled with sparkling rivers of blood-red chaotic powers as they flowed chaotically.

Occasionally, a small round, the bright orb will manifest from the river and explode with terrifying power and shockwaves.

Athan tried to taste the power of one, and his body got exploded into bits.

"ATHAN! Y-you...don't scare us like that," Sen shouted with worry seeing Athan re-forming his body.

Athan wryly smiled and shook his head, "I didn't expect it to have such properties. The shockwave and blast released invisible tendrils that directly penetrated my body and caused the explosions. Anyway, as long as my soul is fine, I can reform my body using voidpulse, so don't worry."

"But...it's still painful for us to watch you like that," Shiromi bit her lips and said while shaking her head.

Tiana and others agreed with her.

"Big brother...no wonder...," The four brothers of the Nimpere clan shook their head with admiration and lamentation.

"Truly, Athan...," Theo smiled weakly and shook his head, "Anyway, how do we endure here?"

Hearing that, Athan turned to Lady Fu and Zorgia before saying, "Create a barrier that can pass the little bit of that crimson sparkling river's water inside. That water has strong corrosive and acidic power and can suck out vitality from the body and cause fatigue. Naturally...the pain will be higher."

Tiana and others involuntarily trembled, but their eyes didn't waver, and they were willing to endure.

"Also, be careful of those random manifestations of the orb and conjure a strong barrier around everyone when it appears," Athan said before he turned to Tiana, Avelia, and others, "While enduring the crimson sparkling river's chaotic power, you will enter meditation and train the cloud of chaos to 4th level."

"But we don't have th-" Before Sen finished speaking, Linci smiled and waved her hand as she took out twelve chests and gave it to others.

"The chest contains scrolls up to 7th level of the cloud of chaos. Once we reach upper-Chaosverse, I'll tell my father to give everyone a complete cloud of chaos technique," Linci said as she showed V sigh with her hand and smiled, "After all, the one who created the complete cloud of chaos was my Crow family's ancestor."

Everyone was surprised hearing that except for Athan since he already knew about it.

...

Tiana and others tried to enter meditation and train in the cloud of chaos while enduring the painful injuries caused by the crimson sparkling river chaotic power.

On the other hand, Athan started searching for a wild defensive-type chaotic power because he planned to combine three or four defensive-type chaotic powers to create his second mini-chaotic world.