The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 2087: The Crimson Exarch

Cain’s brow furrowed as Tiramisu’s words sank in. He was not the sort to be shaken by another’s talent—uncontrollable envy was a childish thing, unworthy of those who aim at eternity. What unsettled him was not the Crimson Exarch’s brilliance, but the fact that his own mastery of The Flow was not truly born from himself.

Yes, he had refined and evolved it through endless training, years of blood, silence, and solitary struggle—but the foundation, the primal principles that allowed him to harness its power, had come from fragments of memory carried over from a past life.

He clenched his jaw, forcing the distraction away. Questions churned like storms in his mind, but this was not the time for introspection. His voice, when he spoke, was calm and direct.

"What is the name of this person? And how strong is he?"

Tiramisu regarded him in silence for a moment, her eyes unreadable pools of light. Then she spoke.

"His true name and realm are unknown to us," she said softly. "He goes by the title Crimson Exarch. For the past few years, he has been fighting in the Ninth Layer. But according to our intelligence, he is descending—coming to the Third Realm to enter the Scarlet King’s Sacred Dimension."

The True Depravity of Primal Fury paused then, her voice losing its warmth. "As of our last confirmed report, his cultivation had reached the level of a Middle ArchDeity. Yet ten months ago, he accomplished something that defied reason. He lured an Alpha–Omega Overgod into an ambush—and, with the aid of a garrison of ArchDeities, destroyed both the man’s body and soul."

The words struck like lightning.

Shock and disbelief flared in the eyes of Cain, Meylin, and the Enlightened One. To slay an Alpha–Omega Overgod as an ArchDeity was thought impossible. Even when ambushed, such beings could escape by sheer command of existence. Yet under the Crimson Exarch’s guidance, an Overgod had been obliterated.

Tiramisu continued, her tone grave. "The true name of the fallen Overgod managed to return to his Divine Kingdom, but the feat itself shook the Path of Freedom. The Crimson Exarch was anointed the Chosen of Freedom, now ranked among their highest powers—just beneath the Ancient One, and on equal standing with the greatest of the Alpha–Omega Overgods who serve the Path."

The trio stood in silence, the weight of those words pressing down like a storm. Tiramisu gave them a few moments to absorb it before she spoke again.

"In truth," she said, "the reason I—and many others—will march into the Sacred Realm is precisely because of him. The Demon King has made his will clear: the Crimson Exarch must not be allowed to evolve his mastery of The Flow any further. Should he ascend again, he will become a central figure in the coming war—and that, my friends, would be... disastrous for us."

Her final words hung in the air like smoke, fading into the stillness that followed. The trio exchanged uneasy glances. Their single advantage—their superior grasp of The Flow—had just been nullified by the emergence of a rival who had mastered it on his own.

To survive and thrive in the Ninth Realm, a place where even gods perished nameless, was already an achievement beyond comprehension. To trick and destroy an Alpha–Omega Overgod there? That was the mark of a being whose cunning and strength transcended reason.

The Crimson Exarch was no mere enemy. He was a calamity.

For a long while, no one spoke. The weight of inevitability pressed upon them—an unseen chain linking their fates to that of an unseen rival. Then, slowly, Cain drew in a deep breath.

The heaviness on his shoulders did not vanish, but something within him stirred—a spark that refused to yield. His eyes began to glow, faintly at first, then brighter, until the light burned like molten gold. Determination replaced doubt.

"I would like," he said firmly, "to use the time before the Scarlet King’s Sacred Dimension opens to fight and train. With the help of your network, I can hunt down several ArchDeities of the Freedom Path—just as I did in the Second Realm."

The stronger the opponent, the greater his will to grow. Battle was not simply bloodshed to him—it was revelation. And the Sacred Dimension would demand more than power; it would demand mastery. If he could evolve one of his trump cards soon, it would be of immense help once they reach the Sacred Realm.

But he was not reckless. The Third Realm was a battlefield carved from chaos, and moving without purpose could bring ruin to himself—and to the delicate strategies of the Life Path. He needed permission. And more importantly, protection. If Braldy, the Alpha–Omega Overgod Neo-Angel, appeared, even he could not stand alone.

Tiramisu studied him quietly before turning her gaze toward Ikmael, who stood beside her, silent as a statue. The Peak Archdeity closed his eyes briefly, calculating. Then he nodded.

"We could use someone like him, Master," Ikmael said at last. "A proficient assassin would be invaluable. With precision strikes, we could stabilize several battlefronts—and reclaim lost territories."

Tiramisu inclined her head in agreement before turning back to Cain.

"We will provide intelligence," she said. "A list of targets—leaders, strategists, and field anchors of the Freedom Path. You may choose freely among them. But..." Her tone hardened, and a cold light entered her eyes. "Do not act without purpose. Remember—sometimes an enemy left alive, in the right place, is more useful than a dead one."

Her gaze sharpened as she studied his reaction. Cain nodded, understanding the deeper meaning. A faint smile touched Tiramisu’s lips, soft but calculating. Yet in the next instant, her expression cooled again, her gaze sliding down his form as if reading the flow of energy through his body.

"According to my intelligence," she said, "you were meant to be focusing on strengthening your body. Yet, judging from your current aura, your physical refinement has not kept pace with your cultivation. Why is that?"

Cain blinked, mildly surprised that she knew so much. Still, he answered honestly. "My old body-refinement technique has reached its limits. It no longer aligns with my current growth. I have yet to find a method that allows me to advance further."

"I see," Tiramisu murmured, the corners of her mouth curving once more into that inscrutable smile. "Well, that is something we can help you with."

Then she turned her gaze toward Ikmael, her aura flickering faintly.