The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 2527: Terrible luck

Shakra did not hesitate.

The moment Cain appeared before him, the Eternal Soul King reacted. His hands snapped open, and from his palms surged a spear-like Soul Beast—its body compressed into a razor-sharp form as it lunged straight toward Cain’s neck.

Cain’s eyes flickered with a meaningful light. The Flow showed him all sorts of patterns he could take to handle the attack.

Moving to the right would be the easiest one, and allow him to land a truly ferocious strike. Yet that was not the path he took.

A slight shift to the left—precise, controlled—just enough to evade the strike. In that instant, his body twisted, gathering every ounce of momentum into his leg.

”WAIT!”

The Nirvana Crown Prince’s voice echoed across the battlefield, the urgency in it clear.

But Cain did not stop.

His kick connected.

It slammed into the carbonized part of Shakra’s face with devastating force.

”BOOOOM!”

The Eternal Soul King was launched downward like a falling meteor, crashing into the already-ruined stronghold. The impact was catastrophic, driving him thousands of kilometers underground as the earth split and collapsed under the sheer power of the blow.

”Dammit!”

The Nirvana Crown Prince cursed, his voice filled with rage and a flash of dread.

He moved to follow—but his body faltered.

The healing treasures had stabilized him, but recovery was far from complete. As a Peak Alpha Omega Overgod with immense vitality, he was incredibly difficult to kill—but that same resilience made full recovery from such catastrophic injuries slow and taxing.

He clenched his teeth, forcing himself to remain airborne as his phoenix wings flared.

Then he appeared beside Cain.

”I told you to wait.”

There was no gratitude in his voice—only cold restraint.

Cain, however, showed no concern.

He simply shrugged.

”I was too focused on the fight to listen,” he replied casually. ”Besides, what’s the problem? The stronghold has already lost its purpose. What difference does a little more damage make?”

The Nirvana Crown Prince stared at him in silence for a moment.

Then he exhaled slowly.

”It’s not the stronghold I care about,” he said. ”It’s what I hid beneath it.”

Cain’s eyes narrowed slightly.

But before he could ask—

A resonant laughter echoed from the depths of the crater.

Both of them turned.

From within the shattered earth, a figure began to rise.

Shakra.

His face was bloodied, the earlier kick having fractured even the exposed bone beneath his scorched flesh.

And yet—

He was smiling.

In his hand, he held a chest plate. The same fragment of a Sacred Treasure that Cain had sold to the Nirvana Crown Prince.

A flicker of surprise crossed Cain’s eyes as he recognized it. He immediately turned toward the Nirvana Crown Prince, a deep frown forming.

”You hid it there?” he asked. ”Why didn’t you keep it in your spatial ring?”

The Nirvana Crown Prince, usually arrogant and quick to anger, showed none of that now.

He simply looked... tired.

”Spatial rings are not as safe as you think,” he replied. ”After all, the arm Shakra tore off was the one carrying mine.”

His gaze darkened.

”I concealed the fragment beneath the stronghold, layered with countless wards. Even if we had been forced to retreat, there was a chance it would remain undetected.”

He paused.

Then looked directly at Cain.

”But your battle with Damian weakened the land... and your kick just sent him straight into the chamber where I hid it.”

A brief silence fell between them.

Cain met his gaze without hesitation.

”And how was I supposed to know that?” he replied evenly.

The Nirvana Crown Prince narrowed his eyes for a moment.

Then sighed.

And nodded.

The Red King’s Ancestor Power had no relation to tracking or perception of hidden constructs. There was no way he could have bypassed the wards intentionally.

This...

Was simply terrible luck.

Pushing the matter aside, the Crown Prince refocused on the battle. He pushed his healing ability to the peak while placing his eyes on the greater problem.

Shakra.

The Eternal Soul King paid the duo no mind. In his mind, they were already dead.

Still smiling, he pressed the chest plate against his body.

It fused.

The fragment merged seamlessly with the others he already possessed, forming a complete armor set that spread across his chest, back, and waist.

A surge of power erupted from him.

His aura skyrocketed.

His already monstrous vitality intensified, his strength rising to an even more terrifying level.

But he wasn’t done.

With a flick of his hand, a radiant orb appeared—glowing with the brilliance of a thousand blue suns.

Without hesitation, he crushed it.

The orb exploded into a burst of sky-blue plasma that surged into his body. Flesh and blood were replaced—reconstructed—by a metallic, luminous structure that reinforced his form.

His power climbed even higher.

Cain’s eyes narrowed.

That treasure...

Was extraordinary.

To heal injuries sustained at the Limit Alpha Omega Overgod level—while wielding a Half-Step Fourth Realm body—so quickly...

It was astonishing.

But not perfect.

”There will be backlash,” Cain muttered quietly. ”But he doesn’t care. Not now.”

He glanced at Shakra again.

”With all the fragments assembled... he thinks he’s already won.”

The Nirvana Crown Prince gave a somber nod.

Then, after a moment, he cast Cain a sideways glance.

”I’m surprised you’re still here,” he admitted. ”Honestly, I expected you to run after seeing me lose.”

Cain smirked slightly.

”I considered it,” he said. ”But I don’t feel like spending months running while waiting for the Realm Barrier to weaken.”

His gaze sharpened.

”So I figured... helping you win is the better option.”

”I see...”

The Nirvana Crown Prince studied him for a moment.

There was something off.

Something he couldn’t quite grasp.

But he didn’t have the luxury of being selective.

Not now.

If he faced the Eternal Soul King alone...

There was only one outcome.

Death.

Whatever plans the Red King might have—

Whatever hidden motives lay beneath that calm exterior—

They could wait.

Because first...

They had to kill the Eternal Soul King.