The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order - Chapter 1948

Chapter 1948: Family trauma

Amon was perceptive enough to read the flicker of concern in Cain’s mind and he immediately shook his head.

“There’s no need to worry, Scarlet King,” he said. “The trials are not fixed. Yes, you can choose combat-based challenges, but you can also choose trials that test mastery in various professions — Rune Crafting, Genetic Coding, even Artifact Forging. According to my sources, you possess remarkable talent in Tribulation Enhancement. With that skill, you might be able to cross the Fourth Gate without the need to enter a battle. And even if you really have to fight, according to the knowledge my brother and I have gathered, you can always exit the battle by surrendering.”

Cain nodded almost instantly after hearing the words of Amon, the unease in his chest dissipating. If he could use his Tribulation Enhancer expertise to move through the trials, he had every confidence in his success — especially after acquiring the Crown of Ascendance.

“I understand,” Cain said. “Then, if I secure your passage to the Fourth Ring and all the wonders within it, will you both join the Scarlet Alliance as Core Members and fight by my side?”

As he spoke, Cain’s golden eyes glowed with a divine radiance. The power of The Flow surged within him, not merely as a show of force, but as a truth-seeker. With it, he could read the intentions of others, seeing if their commitments were genuine, saving himself the problem of forging souls’ pacts or other troublesome things that might not really work.

Amon’s lips curved into a small smile.

“If you get us to the Fourth Ring and guide my path toward Resurrection,” he said, “I will become a Core Member of the Scarlet Alliance and fight alongside you, accepting your authority as leader.”

He turned to Bael.

“And so will my brother.”

The pale-skinned man from the Abyssal Clan did not seem really pleased with the arrangement, but when his gaze met Amon’s eyes, a sigh slipped past his lips.

“Fine,” Bael said at last. “I will fight with you and accept your authority — if you fulfill your part of the deal.”

Though Bael’s tone was far from enthusiastic, Cain’s perception reached past the words and into the emotions beneath. Both brothers were telling the truth. If he upheld his end, they would indeed become Core Members of the Scarlet Alliance, aiding him in his eventual battle against Azazel.

“Then it’s settled,” Cain said. “Open the portal. We go in now.”

Amon’s grin widened. Without another word, he began channeling power into the ancient, weathered structure at the center of the chamber. Lines of light flared across its surface, as the death aura and life aura collected by the Fingers of Death and Life converged in the circle. The air itself seemed to thicken with raw energy.

While the Godslayer Human worked, Cain’s gaze drifted toward Bael. He already knew they were half-brothers through their father, thanks to the resonances of the Concept of Bloodlines he sensed via his Path of Conquest. Yet, not a trace of Godslayer Human heritage could be felt within Bael.

Since the portal would take time to activate, Cain decided to satisfy his curiosity.

“Are you a hybrid?”

Bael’s eyes sharpened instantly, his head turning to regard the Scarlet King in silence. If anyone else had dared to ask, Cain suspected the man would have struck them down on the spot. But Bael held his composure — the Scarlet Path revered hybrids, after all.

Finally, Bael spoke.

“My mother was of the Inferno Daemon Race. As for the other half of my heritage…” His voice dropped into a growl. “I burned every last trace of it from my body the moment before I killed my father.”

Cain’s eyebrows lifted at that. His gaze shifted to Amon, whose response carried even more weight.

“I helped him,” Amon said coldly. “Our father was a soulless beast who deserved to die in the filth like the pig he was.”

Flames of hatred ignited in Amon’s eyes as he continued to weave the portal’s energy.

“If I could, I would have erased my own Godslayer Human blood as well. But I loved my mother, so I take pride in the part of my lineage that came from her.”

Cain softly nodded, though an awkward shadow crossed his expression. He could sense the layers of family trauma buried in their words, but he had no desire to wade into them. He was skilled in many things — diplomacy, war, conquest — but navigating personal tragedies was not one of them.

Fortunately, the tension dissolved quickly as the energy within the structure reached its peak. A deafening hum filled the chamber.

With a final surge of force, the portal flared to life, revealing a vast, otherworldly realm on the other side. The gateway’s surface rippled like liquid glass, the image beyond more vivid than any mere vision — it was a true doorway.

Amon and Bael exchanged a final nod with Cain before stepping through. Cain’s eyes scanned the portal for traps or anomalies before he followed.

The instant his foot crossed the threshold, a wave of awe struck him.

The dimension stretched out in all directions, impossibly vast. The Laws here were richer, more refined, heavier than those of the outside world. Above him lay a perfect sky — a genuine sky — complete with a blazing sun and a pale, watchful moon. The air thrummed with an ancient resonance, as though every grain of dust held echoes of the First Era.

Cain extended his perception outward. In the Everlife Continent, his awareness could easily span its entirety. Here, it reached far… but fell short, unable to even brush the edges of this place. That alone was enough to shake even him.

“Just who could have built something like this?” Cain murmured, more to himself than anyone else, his eyes full of wonder.

The brothers glanced at each other and smiled faintly. They had asked the same question the first time they’d set foot here.

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