The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 1826: I want half

The silence lingered, heavy and solemn, stretching across the battlefield like a suffocating fog. Both sides—Tiamat’s forces and those loyal to the Lord of Ages—held their positions, eyes fixed upon the Neo-Demon waiting to see what he would do.

In this moment, all fate seemed to hinge upon his decision.

If Cain were to side with the Lord of Ages, it was entirely possible that the tides of battle would shift once more. Victory, so close for the Dragon Empress, could dissolve in an instant, replaced by the threat of absolute defeat.

Cain said nothing at first. He merely stared at the Lord of Ages with a cold, unreadable gaze. Then, slowly, his crimson eyes shifted toward Tiamat.

”That is a very good price,” he said at last, his voice smooth and dangerously calm. ”One that would definitely be enough to incentivize me to act.”

Tiamat said nothing. She merely stared at Cain, her expression impassive, though her draconic eyes glowed with barely contained interest.

A tense silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken meaning. And then Cain spoke again.

”Now that my value is clear... how much will you pay to keep me in your Eternal War?”

Gasps echoed across the battlefield. Even the hardened Prima Deities widened their eyes in disbelief. Just moments ago, it had seemed that Cain was about to betray the Dragon Empress. Now he was offering her a chance to outbid the Lord of Ages.

”You little—!” the Lord of Ages began, rage and humiliation surging through his voice. He could scarcely believe the insult—being used as a bargaining chip in a war where he was supposed to be one of the key players. A wave of shame and fury crashed over him.

But Cain ignored him entirely.

His attention remained on Tiamat.

The Dragon Empress studied him for a long moment, then finally spoke. ”If I refuse to hire you... will you side with him?”

Cain smiled faintly, then shook his head. A sharp, unwavering light appeared in his eyes—filled with determination and sincerity.

”I don’t forget,” he said. ”The Lord of Ages tried to kill me. You, on the other hand, saved me—even if you only did so under the Demon King’s orders. Regardless, I appreciated it. I won’t work with someone who aimed for my life... and I won’t betray someone who helped me when I needed it most.”

A new calm settled into his features, and a more relaxed, easygoing smile curved his lips.

”If you choose not to hire me,” he added, ”I’ll take Meylin and leave. That’s all.”

Something changed in Tiamat’s expression. The icy exterior faded, and the corners of her mouth curled upward in a small, knowing smile. She had been the one to approach Cain and Meylin in the beginning, forging their relationship from transactional roots. There was no shame in the man charging a price for his power.

But what impressed her most was the conviction behind his actions—the fact that he would reject an ocean of Origin Power from the Lord of Ages simply to uphold his beliefs. It spoke of character. Of value. Of a partner worth having.

After a short pause, Tiamat assumed a composed and calculating demeanor once more, her tone as sharp as ever. ”I assume you already have a price in mind.”

Cain gave a slow nod, his smirk returning.

”I’ll ensure his death,” he said, ”but I want half.”

Tiamat’s eye twitched slightly. She didn’t need clarification—she knew exactly what he meant. He wanted half of everything the Lord of Ages had accumulated throughout his endless existence: half his treasures, half his Origin Power, half his legacy. It was an exorbitant price.

But then again, that very fortune was what had started this war to begin with.

Tiamat narrowed her gaze as she weighed the offer. Defeating the Lord of Ages was one thing—driving him into retreat was within reach. But killing him was something else entirely. That kind of finality would prevent centuries of vengeance, assassination attempts, or hidden plots to reclaim lost power.

And Cain could deliver it.

”He must die,” Tiamat said at last. ”Or no deal.”

Though the words pained her, she knew it was the right choice.

Cain’s grin widened.

”Then let’s make this his tomb.”

Without another word, the Neo-Demon inhaled deeply. His heartbeat thundered to life again, echoing like a cosmic war drum. The aura of Seventh Gear enveloped him once more, the destructive resonance of his Absolute Destruction True Doomsday Body blazing to life. Dark metallic light shimmered across his skin, and the power of annihilation coiled around the edge of Sky Devourer.

The Lord of Ages was speechless.

The Dragon Empress and the Neo-Demon were negotiating his life and his wealth as though he weren’t even present. There was no time left for outrage—no space for righteous fury. Only battle.

Tiamat raised her arms, and a colossal five-headed dragon manifested behind her, its eyes glowing with divine fury. Each head pulsed with power strong enough to ignite the firmament.

Together, Tiamat and Cain lunged toward the Lord of Ages. There was no hesitation. No mercy.

Their intent was absolute: to end the life of the most ancient ArchDeity the Second Realm had ever known.

”RAAAAAAAAAAAR!”

The five-headed dragon roared, unleashing a sea of fire that roared across the sky. The Lord of Ages reacted instantly, summoning a wall of chains and celestial smoke to shield himself—but Sky Devourer ripped through it like paper, cutting a path directly through the barrier.

”AHHHHHHHHH!”

A scream of agony escaped the Lord of Ages as the fire engulfed him point-blank, searing his divine flesh. Though he was ancient and powerful, the pain was unbearable. But even in that moment of torment, he managed to clasp his hands together, releasing a pulse of energy that pushed the flames away with a burst of desperation.

But it wasn’t enough.

The moment the fire receded, Cain appeared before him—his aura blazing with apocalyptic energy.

And then he roared, with the fury of storms and stars—

”Apocalypse Blast!”