The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order

Chapter 2361: Bound by will

Cain released the two rulers and returned to his seat, a faint smile still on his face. Yet the coldness lingering in his eyes made the message unmistakably clear.

Kaizer and Markin both glanced toward the portal that led back to their home Empyrean Worlds. For a fleeting moment, the thought of retreat crossed their minds—but it vanished just as quickly.

They had already stepped into this hall.

Leaving now would not save them from the wrath—or the hunger—of the Scarlet King.

If they failed to play their cards correctly, things would turn disastrous.

A sharpened resolve appeared in their eyes as they finally took their seats. The number of moves available to them had been drastically reduced, but that did not mean they were out of options.

After all, while it was true that the Scarlet King could take them down and harvest the resources of their worlds to fuel the war against the Root, a purely militaristic approach would slow the main campaign significantly.

And slowing down was the last thing anyone could afford.

Entities like Robuke were already in play.

Cain glanced at the duo once more and, after confirming that everyone was seated, he began.

"First," he said coldly, "save whatever excuses you may have for not coming with us to face the Root before."

His gaze swept across the chamber.

"It would be an insult to those who perished fighting those monsters to even consider a reason for not defending your home other than cowardice."

Anark, Cipher, and the others nodded in agreement.

They had bled.

They had burned their souls and wills.

They had watched comrades fall during the Invasion of the Heart of the Root—all so they could protect the entire universe, including the Empyrean Worlds ruled by Kaizer and Markin.

If the two had fought alongside them, there would have been fewer casualties. Perhaps they could have damaged the Heart of the Root deeply enough to prevent it from devouring the Abyssalcrown Empyrean World altogether.

There was nothing the duo could say that would make up for those losses.

Markin nodded respectfully toward the group, but beneath his composed exterior, turmoil churned violently. He had believed that with his power, charm, and status, he could maneuver the situation—divide the group, gain influence, perhaps even take control.

But he had misjudged them, and greatly.

Their wills were firm.

Their minds were aligned.

When it came to outsiders and enemies, they stood as one.

Still, Markin forced his emotions down, assessing the situation with a clear head before speaking.

"I understand," he said. "Please enlighten us. How should we move forward?"

Cain’s answer was immediate.

"Simple. You will prove your commitment through actions."

He leaned back slightly.

"First, you will hand over the evil and wicked cultivators within your Empyrean Worlds."

Cain waved his hand toward Cipher and the others.

"Just as every one of them did."

The eyes of both Kaizer and Markin narrowed instantly.

Under their rule were many wicked and corrupt powerhouses—figures who thrived in darkness, exploiting the weak while carefully avoiding those stronger than themselves. Under normal circumstances, that would have been enough.

But not now.

And unfortunately for the duo, Anark, Cipher, Amara, Zephirax, Arkam, and Uriel all nodded in agreement. The demand was fair.

Unlike Kaizer and Markin, they had already paid this price.

Of course, they had received immensely powerful treasures in return—but that had been the reward for courage and participation, not cowardice.

In the end, the two rulers exchanged glances. Seeing no path around the demand, they nodded.

"Excellent," Cain said, smiling sincerely for the first time.

Removing evil and wicked cultivators had once been merely a precaution—eliminating potential traitors and those most susceptible to the promises of the Root. But now, it served a greater purpose.

The Power of Chaos allowed Cain to draw strength from those around him, granting him a boost far greater than merely channeling the Universe Matrix—while placing far less strain on his soul.

However, for that to work, trust or at least aligned goals were required. Without harmony, such power-sharing was impossible.

"Now," Cain continued, "in order to restore and compensate for the resources used in the fight..."

He proceeded to list further demands—resources, materials, and treasures to be redistributed among the forces of the alliance.

Each condition made Kaizer and Markin clench their teeth.

Yet none were excessive.

In fact, they were roughly equal to what the Empyrean Worlds under Cipher and the others had already contributed to the war effort.

After securing these concessions, Cain reached his final point.

"During future incursions against the World of the Root," he said calmly, "you two will fight on the front lines—right by my side."

Kaizer and Markin immediately understood the reason.

Cain did not trust them to guard his back.

And he wanted them facing the greatest dangers.

Unfortunately for them, there was no way to refuse. This was the bare minimum required to pull their weight.

"Good," Cain said once they agreed. "As long as you fulfill these demands, you will be given a chance to prove your worth—and become true members of the Nine Empyrean Suns Alliance."

The duo released a breath they hadn’t realized they were holding, believing the ordeal finally over.

Then Cain’s eyes flared brighter than ever before.

"I have one final question before we proceed," he said slowly.

The room went still.

"Is either of you joining this alliance with ill intent? With the desire to betray the Nine Empyrean Suns Universe—or to harm someone in particular?"

At first glance, the question seemed naïve.

After all, anyone harboring such intentions would simply lie.

But Cipher and the others knew better.

Lying to the Scarlet King was far easier said than done.

Those radiant scarlet eyes were capable of piercing straight into the soul—reading emotions, intent, and truth itself.

And in that moment, Kaizer and Markin understood something clearly.

Words did not hold together this alliance.

It was bound by will.

That of the Scarlet King.