The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 1829: Consuming an Eternal Kingdom

With wide smiles, Cain and Meylin rose into the highest reaches of the sky, their eyes locked on Tiamat. Though the duo were technically still Prima Deities, they now stood on equal footing with the Dragon Empress herself. They had proven, beyond doubt, that they possessed the power to clash with ArchDeities—and even leave them severely wounded.

”Time for the negotiations,” Tiamat said, her voice cool and steady as her draconic eyes glanced over the pair.

Meylin responded with a small, knowing smile and took a step back, making it clear she would not participate in the exchange. When it came to schemes, politics, and the art of haggling, Cain’s mind was the sharpest she had ever known. There was no one better suited to deal with the Dragon Empress.

Cain returned the Dragon Empress’s gaze with a calm smile. After taking a deep breath, he stepped forward, and the negotiation began.

Though Cain was entitled to half of everything the Lord of Ages had amassed throughout his incomprehensibly long life, dividing such a trove was no simple matter. The fallen ArchDeity’s Eternal Kingdom was a place filled with treasures of every imaginable and unimaginable kind.

Some were easy to quantify, like crystalline orbs brimming with Origin Power, but others defied measurement. Ancient cultivation techniques carved into multi-dimensional scrolls, ethereal essences captured within soul-jars, and bizarre artifacts forged from extinct beasts—all waited to be claimed. Some items were so abstract in nature that their value was purely subjective, depending on one’s path or Oniric Truths.

Cain and Tiamat projected their consciousnesses deep into Tartarus, flooding the vast kingdom with their perceptions. Every vault, every hidden chamber, every lingering fragment of value was located, scanned, and listed.

Then came the true challenge: dividing the spoils.

What followed was a grueling, mind-bending ordeal. Even the Prima Deities watching from a distance found themselves confused by the sheer complexity of the exchange. Cain would initially claim some priceless relic, only to hand it over to Tiamat moments later. In turn, he would acquire something seemingly trivial—an item that later revealed itself to be the missing keystone in a greater treasure’s formation.

It wasn’t long before Tiamat herself found her calculations slipping. More than once, she unknowingly traded a treasure of monumental worth for something less useful, tricked by Cain’s patient and deliberate pacing.

After hours of intense and exhausting bartering, the entire wealth of the Lord of Ages had been split—half to Cain and half to the Dragon Empress.

But the negotiation was far from over.

Two final matters remained: the fate of the Eternal Kingdom itself, and the Lord of Ages.

The Eternal Kingdom was still brimming with unimaginable amounts of Origin Power—so much that it could elevate a Prima Deity to the next realm of existence with relative ease. As for the Lord of Ages, the ancient ArchDeity was still alive. His heart had been obliterated, but his body remained viable, and his soul was in one piece.

”I want the Lord of Ages,” Cain said without hesitation, his voice tinged with a ravenous hunger. A faint image of the Scarlet Throne manifested behind him, pulsing with power. His eyes shimmered crimson as his desire spilled forth.

Adding the Lord of Ages to the Scarlet Throne would result in an immense boost to Cain’s vitality—perhaps enough to push his Neo-Demon body to the next level. Even if the old ArchDeity’s Dream didn’t match his path, Cain could still extract fragments of Oniric Truths to expand his collection.

Unfortunately for him, Tiamat’s desire was even greater.

”He is mine,” she said firmly.

The look in her eyes was one of absolute certainty. When it came to the Lord of Ages, her will was unshakable. She would be the one to consume him.

Cain’s eyes narrowed as he analyzed her expression, and a flicker of enlightenment passed through his mind. Could it be that the Lord of Ages’ Dream might help her evolve?

Though Cain understood that Tiamat’s path was deeply entwined with Sin-based Oniric Truths, he didn’t know the full mechanics of her Dream. It was impossible to predict how the Lord of Ages’ cosmic rules might resonate with it. Still, the determination in her gaze told him enough—this was not something he could take from her.

”Ahhh, fine,” Cain said with a heavy sigh. ”The Lord of Ages’ existence belongs to you.”

But his tone sharpened immediately, a sly smile curling his lips.

”However... that means eighty percent of the Eternal Kingdom’s Origin Power belongs to me.”

Tiamat’s eyes narrowed.

Eighty percent was a monumental amount. The sheer volume of Origin Power in the Eternal Kingdom was enough to change the fate of entire Realms. But before she could protest, Cain continued.

”I’ll leave the core of the kingdom intact,” he said, ”ensuring its cosmic rules remain undisturbed. That way, you can assimilate them into your own Dream.”

Tiamat remained silent for a moment, visibly torn. But as she looked into Cain’s eyes—sharp as blades, resolute as iron—she knew there was no room for compromise. She sighed and gave a reluctant nod.

”I accept.”

Cain grinned. ”Hahaha, perfect. Like they say—’a good deal is one where both parties are slightly unhappy.’”

He gave her a respectful nod, then turned to Meylin.

Without wasting another second, the trio descended into the Eternal Kingdom. With their speed and perception, it didn’t take long to gather all their rightful treasures, storing the vast hoard into spatial rings. The Eternal Kingdom—once golden, resplendent, and filled with power—was soon stripped bare.

Only then did Cain summon the Scarlet Throne and begin the process of consuming the Eternal Kingdom itself.

True to his word, he started at the outer perimeter, devouring the kingdom slowly and carefully. Cain ensured the core of the Eternal Kingdom remained untouched, preserved for Tiamat to absorb and harmonize with.

The process took time.

The Eternal Kingdom of the Lord of Ages was vast beyond comprehension, dwarfing even some of the small continents of the Everstrife Empyrean World. Entire floating cities, oceans of spiritual flame, and mountain ranges made of condensed Origin Power were gradually devoured by the Scarlet Throne.