The Epic Tale of Chaos vs Order - Chapter 1561

Chapter 1561: Facing a faction leader
The Sky Sovereign was at a loss for words. Logic dictated that their targets should be handled slowly, one by one—a meticulous, calculated approach that minimized unnecessary risks. Yet the Third Realm phantom, could not ignore the sense of truth in Cain’s impassioned declaration. After all, the point of possessing overwhelming strength was to be free, to act according to one’s heart’s desire, and not to be shackled by endless contingencies and hypothetical dangers.

Cain felt an exhilaration burn in his veins—a kind of eager, reckless anticipation that only grew stronger when unimpeded by caution. His speed was truly astonishing now, a seamless blend of physical might and mastery over the Laws.

It took him almost no time at all to traverse the treacherous path to the Frozen Peak. A potent killing intent boiled up from the deepest corners of his heart. Without hesitating, he bolted through the mountainous terrain, forging a straight path toward the headquarters of Core Elder Karun. He wore no cloak or disguise. This was to be a direct confrontation, out in the open, where there would be no ambiguity about his intentions.

The moment Cain appeared within sight, the fortress began to glow with an unnatural brilliance, alerting its inhabitants to an impending clash. Three massive towers rose from within the fortress walls, forming a triad of unfathomable energy that powered the entire stronghold. In unison, the towers unleashed a flash of brilliance as spheres of fire, wind, and lightning coalesced at their zeniths. These spheres shimmered ominously for a split second before detonating in a chaotic torrent, forging energy cannons that blazed through the air toward Cain like a raging tempest.

Cain’s eyes narrowed at the sight of these attacks. He could sense their lethal potency—an amalgamation of carefully crafted energies meant to cut him down. Yet fear did not cross his mind; only excitement bubbled in his chest, pushing him to move faster. With a fluidity that bordered on the supernatural, he dodged the energy cannons, weaving through them. To his surprise, however, the three blasts curved sharply after missing him, angling upward and hurtling toward his exposed back.

“Impressive,” he muttered, feeling the heat intensify behind him. “They’ve spared nothing in their defensive measures.”

There was an odd sense of respect in his voice. Still, he refused to pause. He set his sights on the fortress, perched like a silent sentinel at the peak of the frozen mountain. Rows of defenders lined the top of its walls, each one projecting an intimidating aura. These were Divine Transcendence Masters, each capable of warping the flow of energy in the environment with a mere gesture. Their Gu Insects were visible, amplifying both physical prowess and energy to staggering degrees.

At the very center of this phalanx of power stood a man from the Abyssal Clan with a formidable presence draped in obsidian armor that gleamed with an unearthly luster. Waves of Star Power emanated from him in rolling pulses, cold and final, like the aftertaste of death. It was as if the essence of life itself could not exist comfortably in his vicinity, the power of the grave seeping into every breath he took.

A third eye, set in the middle of the man’s forehead, glimmered with lethal potential. A massive black sword loomed at his back, nearly the same length as his body. On his forearm, a bizarre hybrid of beetle and scorpion clung, its carapace reflecting the fortress’s glow. Everything about this figure reeked of menace and supreme mastery.

“Core Elder Karun!” Cain’s killing intent roared forth. He recognized the figure instantly as the leader of this entire faction—one of the mightiest Soul Masters in the Gu Sect.

“System,” Cain shouted internally. He activated the Absolute Life Form System, and in mere moments, it responded with precise data about this imposing foe.

[Scanning target…

Name: Karun

Race: Inferno Daemon

Path of Power: Astral Rebirth (Peak Divine Transcendence) / Ego Eternal (Late Mind Over Soul)

…

Stats:

Strength: 176.2

Agility: 79.4

Vitality: 101.6

Astral Origin: 135.2

Soul Force: 167.1

Ego Wave: 195.6

…

Astral Supremacy Star: Death Type (Rank 8)]

Cain absorbed these details swiftly. Karun’s strength was immense—enough to cow most adversaries into retreating. And yet, the data did not cause Cain to flinch.

It was merely another challenge, another obstacle in his path. Neither Karun’s stats nor the world-ending blasts closing in from behind could divert Cain from his goal. He marched forward, brandishing the Shooting Star Dragon Halberd, which vibrated with growing ferocity as he prepared to strike down anyone who stood between him and his target.

Despite the shock of seeing The Monster—a legendary man whose name had spread far across the continent—Karun stood his ground. No flicker of uncertainty clouded his dark eyes. Instead, they glowed with an iron resolve that defied his foe’s fearsome reputation. Just as Cain was about to enter striking distance, the entire fortress radiated a brilliant light, and a colossal forcefield materialized around it. The dome-like barrier shimmered in prismatic hues, thick lines of runic script snaking across its surface.

Cain’s eyes widened momentarily. He was confident he could break the barrier, but doing so would take valuable time—time he did not have. The energy beams behind him, spurred on by the fortress’s defenses, would show no mercy and allow no reprieve. In a split-second decision, Cain angled himself sharply upward just before colliding with the forcefield. His movement left only a trail of swirling snow in his wake. The blasts locked onto his energy signature, altering course in a blazing arc to resume their pursuit.

“ARGGHHHHHH!” A roar of sheer willpower echoed from Karun’s throat as the Core Elder concentrated with every fiber of his being. His eyes glowed a fierce, molten color of deadly conviction. Pouring his Soul Force into the fortress’s core, he acted upon the three massive towers.

“BOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!”

A thunderous shockwave tore through the air as the beams of fire, wind, and lightning twisted around one another, merging into a single cataclysmic force. The destructive capacity skyrocketed. It was as though the unleashed power touched the threshold of the Third Realm!

Cain watched the apocalyptic mass of energy surge closer. Not only had it become exponentially stronger, but its speed had also intensified. He ascended higher, reaching an altitude where the faint shimmer of the Gu World’s Crystal Wall appeared like a distant veil overhead.

He wore a calm smile on his face. Halting his climb, he slowly removed the Shooting Star Dragon Halberd from his hand, placing it across his back in one deft motion. He stood poised, unwavering, as the chaotic beam bore down.