The eyes of the Archdeities widened, their veins burning with fire, their souls trembling with awe.

Alpha–Omega Overgod.

Those words alone shook them to the core. They had seen the phrase carved in relics of the First Era, etched into fragments of forgotten scriptures, and immortalized within the ruins of ancient civilizations. They knew well what it meant.

It was the supreme cultivation realm—the true pinnacle of existence—above gods, above eternity, beyond the very weave of creation. Those who reached it could carve wounds in barriers thought unbreakable, bend reality itself, and live for endless eons.

Techniques of that caliber were extremely rare. Cain, Amon, and Bale had obtained some in the Oroborous Cult, yet even then, they were not cultivation techniques. Never in the history of the Everstrife Empyrean World had anyone obtained a complete cultivation method that revealed the path beyond Archdeity. Never—until now.

Cain read the thrill in their eyes, the feverish hunger. He understood their loyalty; he knew their devotion to the Scarlet Kingdom was absolute. Yet devotion alone was not enough. A promise of transcendence—an initiative greater than themselves—would ignite their will, compel them to push beyond all limits, again and again. He had just given them that.

"Go now. Fulfill your missions." Cain's voice cut through the silence like a blade. "When I awaken, I will judge the works of each of you."

"Hail the Scarlet King!"

The Six Chief Councilors and the ArchDeities roared in unison. Their gazes burned with fervor. None knew how long their King would slumber, but they understood one truth: when he awoke, their progress would be weighed. And so they would labor without rest, without hesitation, to advance far enough to be deemed worthy of his promised rewards.

One by one, they withdrew, leaving Cain in silence. For a time he enjoyed the stillness. But solitude never lasted long for the Scarlet King. A new figure arose within the chamber—an elderly man, his presence ethereal, without a physical body, yet his aura overflowed with energy and vitality on a truly cosmic scale.

Cain's lips curved faintly. There was no mistaking him.

"Ao."

The old man clasped his hands and bowed respectfully. Once, Ao had been Aether's World Will. Now, through evolution and merging, he had become the consciousness of entire continents, a living will imprinted upon the Everstrife Empyrean World itself.

"Scarlet King," Ao greeted solemnly.

Cain returned the courtesy with a nod. "How fares the expansion of your consciousness and psychic imprint across the continents?"

Ao closed his eyes for a moment, attuning to the resonance of countless living beings. When he reopened them, they glowed faintly.

"My awareness now covers eighteen continents, and it continues to spread rapidly. As long as the Scarlet Path grows and the people continue to embrace it, nothing will stop me. In less than a decade, I should be able to reach every continent in this world. Of course…" his voice dipped, "…this assumes I continue receiving the necessary fuel from the Scarlet Throne."

Cain smiled, sharp yet reassuring. "You will have as much energy as you need."

But then a glint of steel flashed across his eyes. "Tell me, Ao… what will happen when your expansion collides with the World Will of Everstrife? Will you fight against it?"

The thought could not be ignored. The growth of Ao's consciousness would inevitably provoke conflict. There could not be two masters wielding dominion over the world's energies. At least that was what Cian thought.

Ao regarded Cain for a long moment before smiling faintly. "I have not reached that point yet. But when I do… I already have an idea of how to handle it."

Cain's brows furrowed. He was not fond of half-answers. Yet Ao was no mere subordinate. He was ancient, wise, a being whose very essence had endured since the birth of Aether. Cain exhaled slowly and shrugged.

"Very well. Focus on your task. A unified world is what I require. If the day comes when you need aid against the World Will… know that I already have methods to weaken it."

Ao bowed once again. "I will keep that in mind, Scarlet King." And with that, he vanished, leaving Cain once more in silence.

But solitude remained fleeting. Another figure materialized, this one vast and imposing. His body radiated raw, primordial strength, a form that seemed capable of shattering worlds with brute force alone. Around his head shone five white stars, forming a crown of celestial brilliance.

Cain rose from his throne, lips curving into a genuine smile.

"Brother."

"Brother."

The greeting was mutual, equal.

Cain's eyes sharpened with curiosity. "What are your plans?"

Anark had helped stabilize the aftermath of war. His overwhelming might had made the spread of the Scarlet Kingdom unstoppable. But Cain did not delude himself—Anark was not his personal guardian. The Primordial had his own destiny.

Anark met Cain's gaze, then exhaled slowly, shaking his head. "I do not truly know. For so long, I waited to regain my form, to reclaim my strength. Now that I have it… I find myself uncertain. Perhaps I will simply rest for a time. The battle against that eldritch god was exhilarating, but I would like peace—quiet, if only for a while."

A chuckle escaped his lips. "And what of you? Will you go to the Crimson World?"

Cain froze, shock flashing in his eyes. He had never spoken of the Crimson World to Anark.

The Primordial noticed his reaction and smiled faintly. "After my resurrection, my soul has begun to truly heal. Memories are returning. They are fragmented still, like pieces of a dream, but I am certain that, with time, they will all return."

He paused deliberately, ensuring Cain understood the state of his recollections, then continued.

"Among those memories was the Crimson World… and also the Dreamwalkers. And since I can sense the radiation of a True Name within you, I deduced that you have already been there."

Cain nodded silently. His expression grew sharp, and a dangerous light flickered in his eyes. His voice carried the weight of a decisive question.

"Then tell me, Anark… do you know anything about the Tenth Empyrean World?"

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